Rapper Gets 6 Months for Kicking Female Fan at Concert

Kevin Gates says he was just trying to defend himself
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 27, 2016 4:08 PM CDT
Rapper Found Guilty of Kicking Female Fan
Kevin Gates   (Polk County Jail)

A Louisiana rapper was sentenced to six months in jail Wednesday for kicking a female fan during a concert last year in Florida, WFLA reports. A video of the incident went viral. Kevin Gates admitted he kicked the woman—19-year-old Miranda Dixon—but claimed she left him no choice. Gates, attempting to use the Stand Your Ground defense, said Dixon kept grabbing his legs while he was on stage and ignored him when he told her to stop. According to Complex, Gates said he needed to use "necessary force" to protect himself.

Dixon admitted to pulling on Gates' pants because she was "trying to get his attention for my friend." Her friend told the court she wanted Gates to notice her "because he is a famous rapper." Dixon said she only grabbed Gates twice before he kicked her, Fox 13 reports. She testified that she blacked out after being kicked and that her stomach hurt for a month. But Gates' attorney said Gates' foot didn't even make contact with Dixon, who he said is lying in order to get money in a separate civil suit. A jury—all white women, Complex notes—found Gates guilty of battery. Prosecutors were only asking for two months in jail, but the judge tripled Gates' punishment. (More battery stories.)

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