Akon Pleads Guilty!

Hip-hop star Aliaune Thiam popularly known as Akon has pleaded guilty to second-degree harassment in Fishkill, New York, for tossing a fan off stage during a concert in this town in June 2007, according to media reports Thursday December 18, 2008.

The 35-year-old singer was sentenced to an anti-gang and anti-violence community service for 65 hours and pay a fine of 250 U.S. dollars to avoid jail term.

Akon tossed a teenage boy, Anthony Smith, off the stage at the June 2007 Annual KFEST concert when a security guard pointed out that the boy was the culprit who threw something at Akon.

Akon pleaded guilty to second-degree harassment, and also apologized to the boy and his parents. His lawyer Andrea Zellan 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.

The singer could be hauled back to court if he is arrested in the next 12 months.
This is not the first time the Senegalese-American singer has had a brush with the law. Akon had been convicted of a felony for gun possession in 1998. He received three years probation after pleading guilty. He also spent several months in jail on remand for car theft but charges against him were later dropped. And in April 2007, Akon drew criticism for his sexually charged dance onstage with a 14-year-old girl during a concert in Trinidad and Tobago. He claimed he didn't know the girl was underage.