The lady who allegedly choked Simon Cowell's ex, Terri Seymour, has been charged with two misdemeanors -- battery and assault.

The L.A. City Attorney has just charged Janice Thibodeaux with battery and assault for the alleged attack on Terri after the "American Idol" finale in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

Maximum penalty for the battery charge is six months in county jail and a $2,000 fine -- and the assault charge could get her 1 year and a $10,000 fine.

Janice will be in court this afternoon.


UPDATE: Janice was just arraigned and pled not guilty. The judge set her bail at $20,000 -- she'll be back in court on June 4.