Court Appearance for Hip-Hop Star Akon in Fishkill

September 3, 2008 - 7:55 AM
Associated Press

Hip-hop star Akon is expected to appear at a court hearing on criminal charges alleging he tossed a fan offstage at an upstate concert last summer.

The 35-year-old was scheduled to appear in Fishkill Town Court Wednesday morning. He pleaded not guilty in December to misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment, a violation.

He's accused of tossing 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.

The incident was caught on videotape.

Akon's hits include "Smack That" with Eminem and "I Wanna Love You" with Snoop Dogg. His most recent album, "Konvicted," was nominated for four Grammy awards.