Canadian R&B artist Abel Tesfaye aka The Weeknd will avoid jail after pleading no contest to an assault charge consequent to punching a police officer.
On Jan. 10 this year, Tesfaye was arrested in Las Vegas after the R&B star was involved in a brawl at the Crowmell Hotel. Trying to break up the fight, the police pulled Tesfaye in an elevator when Tesfaye punched an officer. Tesfaye was charged with battery of a protected person and was taken to jail. Tesfaye eventually bailed.
In its report, TMZ said that consequent to the assault and for his case to be dismissed, Tesfaye is charged with a $1,000 which will go to the Las Vegas police injured officers fund, has to complete a course on anger management, has to undergo alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service, which The Weeknd can do at a non-profit group in Canada. He also has to stay out of any new trouble.
According to Toronto Sun, Tesfaye's defense attorney Shane Emerick declined on Monday to comment on The Weeknd's no contest plea filed on Wednesday. By pleading no contest, The Weeknd, without admitting guilt or offering defense, concedes to the charges filed against him. Pleading no contest, which is a common plea bargain, has the same effect as pleading guilty.
Recently gracing the cover of Rolling Stone, The Weeknd admitted in the cover story that his encounter with Taylor Swift had him wanting for to drink.
"She actually schooled me on my own sh--," The Weeknd said.
"She was like, 'I've been listening to 'The Morning' for years-it's one of my favorite songs ever!' I mean, she might have just Googled it. But she seemed genuine," he added. "But the whole time she was talking, she was kind of , like, petting my hair? I think she was drawn to it-she must have been a little gone off a few drinks."
The 25-year old R&B star continued, "And of course I'm not going to be like, 'Hey! Can you stop?' I mean, it felt good! But when she started petting my hair, that's when I was like, 'I definitely need a drink.'"
