Apparently Scientology jokes can get you hard time in California. Keith Henson, an "engineer, writer and futurist" was convicted in California for heckling scientologists and interfering with their "religion".

Henson was convicted in 2001 under a California law (Sec. 422.6) that criminalizes any threat to interfere with someone else's "free exercise" of religion. One Usenet post that was introduced at his trial included jokes about sending a "Tom Cruise" missile against a Scientology compound (the actor is a prominent Scientologist). Picketing Scientology buildings and other "odd behavior" were also part of the charges, Deputy District Attorney Robert Schwarz said at the time.

Personally I don't see the point in heckling Scientologists, but upon sentencing Henson faces a year in prison which seems excessive for an internet joke and a one-man picket line. What's more, California is extraditing him from Arizona (thats right, extraditing him for a misdemeanor).

I wonder if any of the anti-war kooks turned rioters who vandalized the San Franscisco Chronicle building were persued so fervently. They were after all, interfering with the free exercise of the press.