Akon Sentenced To 65 Hours Of Community Service For Harassing A Fan

Akon has been sentenced to 65 hours of community service for harassing a fan. The Senegalese-born rapper pleaded guilty to throwing a teenage boy off stage during a New York concert last year and was told he would avoid jail by completing the community service and paying a $250 fine.

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Akon - real name Aliaune Thiam - shook hands with the now 16-year-old victim, Anthony Smith, after entering his plea and apologized to him and his parents, but refused to comment on his sentence.

His lawyer issued a statement saying: "We are pleased the case has been resolved and Akon looks forward to putting this unfortunate incident behind him."

According to witnesses at the June 2007 concert, which took place at New York's Duchess Stadium, a spectator threw something on stage, sparking the incident.

After asking the crowd to identify the culprit, a security guard picked out Anthony, then 15, and sent him up to the stage, where the "Lonely" star hoisted him onto his shoulders and threw him into the crowd.

One concertgoer claimed to have suffered concussion when the boy landed on her.

Before the New York incident - which was caught on camera - Akon drew criticism when he was videotaped simulating sex onstage with a teenage girl during an April 2007 concert in Trinidad.

He later apologized and said he hadn't known the girl was underage.