Kanye West Gets Community Service For Paparazzi Fight

10/23/09 4:15pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Kanye West had three misdemeanor charges stemming from last year's incident with members of the paparazzi thrown out in court today, providing he completes 50 hours of community service.

In September 2008, West and his manager Dow Crowley got into a scuffle with some photographers for TMZ at Los Angeles International Airport which resulted in West and Crowley breaking two of the paps' cameras.

West was charged with vandalism, battery and grand theft, which are felonies. He pleaded not guilty.

Blair Berk, West's lawyer, told the judge his client and Crowley have completed 12 hours of anger management classes and reimbursed the photographers for their losses, according to Rollingstone.com.

Berk told the court he thought the case was "wildly overcharged" given the paparazzi's involvement, and accused them of inciting his client.

The judge and prosecution said West's behaviour was unacceptable, but said the charges would be dropped so far as he completes his community service hours, which will be done with the Red Cross.