Hip-hop star Akon pleaded guilty Wednesday to harassment for tossing a fan off stage at an upstate New York concert last year.
He will serve no jail time as long he performs 65 hours of community service and pays a $250 fine, according to the plea bargain in Fishkill Town Court.
The 35-year-old singer threw a teenage boy off the stage during a June 2007 concert at a minor league baseball stadium near Poughkeepsie. Another concertgoer said she suffered a concussion when the teen landed on her.
Witnesses said a spectator threw something at Akon during the show at Dutchess Stadium. After he asked the crowd to point out the culprit, a security guard picked up a 15-year-old boy and sent him up to the stage. Akon hoisted the teen onto his shoulders and flung him into the crowd.
After the plea, Akon shook hands with Anthony Smith, the now 16-year-old fan, and apologized to him and his parents.
Akon declined comment as he left, but Andrea Zellan, his lawyer, issued a written statement saying, "We are pleased that the case has been resolved and Akon looks forward to putting this unfortunate incident behind him."
source