December 4, 2007 0:02

Akon pleads not guilty to minor charges

The hip-hop star is accused of tossing a fan

Akon pleaded not guilty to misdemeanour criminal charges today (December 3) stemming from an incident in which he allegedly tossed a young fan into the audience at one of his concerts earlier this year.

A woman at the New York show said she suffered a concussion after Akon hoisted the teenager off the stage landed and he landed on her, as previously reported.

As a result, the hip-hop star, whose real name is Aliaune Thiam, was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment, reports the Associated Press.

"It was never Akon's intention to violate the law," his lawyer Benjamin Brafman said in a statement. "This unfortunate incident was a spontaneous reaction during a live concert that Akon deeply regrets."

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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