Kane pleads guilty to disorderly conduct

BUFFALO, N.Y., Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane entered a guilty plea to a disorderly conduct charge for allegedly assaulting a Buffalo cab driver for 20 cents.

Kane, 20, and his cousin, James Kane, 21, were arrested Aug. 9 after cabbie Jan Radecki told Buffalo police he was punched in the face and grabbed by the throat when he could not produce the right change for their cab fare.

The Kanes were originally charged with misdemeanor assault, theft and harassment.

After their pleas Thursday to disorderly conduct, they received conditional discharges.

Buffalo City Court Judge Thomas P. Amodeo said the ruling means they can avoid any penalties if they stay out of trouble for one year. He ordered them send a written apology to Radecki.

"I insisted that an apology be a condition of the plea," Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III told The Buffalo News.