Kanye West pleaded no contest Monday to a misdemeanor count of battery against a 2013 lawsuit filed against him by a photographer, according to the Associated Press.
Last August, West attacked a male photographer, who was trying to take pictures of him at Los Angeles International Airport. A no contest plea is treated the same as a guilty plea for purposes of the sentencing.
West, who entered the plea through his attorney and did not attend the court hearing, was given two years of probation and ordered to do 250 hours of community service. The 36-year-old rapper is also required to complete 24 sessions of a level-two anger management program and he must turn himself in to the LAPD for a formal booking.
Judge Alan Rubin, who sentenced West, said he will review the community service documents to make sure he does not receive any special treatment. Attorneys for plaintiff Daniel Ramos restated the details for the suit in a statement after the verdict was reached:
"The lawsuit alleges that on July 19, 2013 Daniel was outside of the Tom Bradley Terminals International Arrivals at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on July 19, 2013, with a number of other professional photographers. Daniel and the photographers were gathered on the sidewalk area in front of LAX to photograph celebrities who might emerge from the terminal. Mr. West exited the terminal and saw the gathered group of photographers. Daniel, who was standing about 10 feet away from Mr. West called out to him and said 'Kanye, can we talk to you, Kanye?' Daniel then said 'What's going on? Why can't we talk to you? I mean why?' Mr. West had shouted at photographers. 'Don't talk to me. I don't want to hear paparazzi talk to me or anybody I know.'"
The incident, which was caught on camera, showed West rushing the photographer and attempting to wrestle his camera from his hands. Romas is also claiming that the rapper punched him in an unprovoked attack.
Lawyer Gloria Allred has filed a civil suit against West on behalf of the photographer. Ramos told the judge he wanted West thrown in jail.
The statement continued, "Daniel held onto his camera and fell down onto his knees onto the paved sidewalk with enough force that he sustained injuries to his right hip, was in great pain, and had to be transported in an ambulance to the emergency room."
The AP reported that prosecutors declined to the file felony charges against the rapper.
