POUGHKEEPSIE, New York — R&B star Akon spoke to students in upstate New York about gun violence as part of a plea agreement for tossing a fan off stage at a concert nearby.
POUGHKEEPSIE, New York — R&B star Akon spoke to students in upstate New York about gun violence as part of a plea agreement for tossing a fan off stage at a concert nearby. Akon pleaded guilty in December to tossing the teen off stage at a June 2007 concert at Dutchess County Stadium in Fishkill, New York. He won’t serve jail time but must complete 65 hours of anti-violence and anti-gang community service. Poughkeepsie Mayor John Tkazyik said Thursday’s forum fulfilled some of those hours. He said Akon will return to Poughkeepsie in September and participate in a Project SWAG — Society at War Against Guns — back-to-school conference. Akon, whose given name is Aliaune Thiam, will also record a public service announcement about gun violence for use by local radio stations. ______ Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
