Surfers defend McConaughey, allegedly dunk paparazzi
LOS ANGELES – Two surfers have been charged with misdemeanor battery for allegedly throwing a photographer into the water as he tried to shoot pictures of Matthew McConaughey surfing, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Skylar Peak, 24, and Philip Hildebrand, 30, are accused of confronting several paparazzi who showed up in June on a Malibu beach to take pictures and film McConaughey.
One of the photographers told authorities he was attacked and his camera was thrown in the ocean by the surfers after they demanded he put his camera away.
Sheriff’s officials have said that despite video of the confrontation being posted online, they struggled to find cooperative witnesses. But on Tuesday a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles district attorney’s office said prosecutors felt they had enough evidence to pursue the case.
“”We believe that a complete investigation, including looking at the tapes, will show that Skylar defended himself,”” said Peak’s publicist, Howard Bragman.
Trial to begin for Akon
FISHKILL, N.Y. – Akon is headed to trial on criminal charges he tossed a fan offstage at an upstate concert last summer.
The 35-year-old singer is accused of tossing a teenager 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 boy landed on her.
He pleaded not guilty in December to misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment, a violation.
In court Wednesday, Judge Harold Epstein met privately with Akon’s lawyer, County Assistant District Attorney before announcing the case would go to trial unless a deal is reached.
Ledger drug video suit dismissed
LOS ANGELES – A judge in Los Angeles says a lawsuit filed by a celebrity reporter over a video that purportedly shows Heath Ledger doing drugs fails to adequately state legal claims.
Superior Court Judge John Wiley Jr. has tentatively dismissed 11 of 12 allegations filed against a paparazzi agency and two photographers accused of secretly filming the reporter and Ledger in a hotel room in 2006.
Attorneys for the unidentified reporter, who was on assignment for People magazine, can amend the lawsuit to try to get their allegations restored. They can still pursue a trespass claim against the photographers, one of whom the reporter dated.
The tape was scheduled to be aired on “”Entertainment Tonight”” after Ledger’s death in January, but the show canceled those plans.
Celebrity Birthdays
Paul Harvey (Radio personality) is 90. Actress Khandi Alexander (“”ER,”” ”NewsRadio””) is 51. Kim Thayil (guitarist of Soundgarden) is 48. Richard Wingo (singer of Jagged Edge) is 33. Wes Bentley (actor of “”American Beauty””) is 30. Dan Miller (singer of O-Town) is 28. Beyonce Knowles is 27.
-The Associated Press
