Charges dropped against Black Eyed Peas manager in Perez Hilton case

The road manager of the Black Eyed Peas has agreed to stay away from celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, as criminal charges were dropped in a Toronto court on Wednesday.

An assault charge against Liborio Molina, the 36-year-old manager of the chart-topping U. S. band, was dropped after Molina agreed to enter into a peace bond.

The peace bond included a letter of apology to Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira. Hilton’s lawyer was unhappy with the contents of the apology letter, but it did satisfy the court. Molina is also to have no contact with Hilton, to stay at least 100 metres from Cobra nightclub and to possess no weapons for a year.

"I am happy that Liborio Molina has accepted responsibility for his violent actions," Hilton said in an e-mail. He added: "I look forward to reading his letter of apology and he and Will.I.Am can look forward to reading my in-depth thoughts about that awful night in my new book, `Perez Hilton’s True Bloggywood Stories: The Glamorous Life of Beating, Cheating and Overdosing,’ out on December 1st."

Molina donated $500 to the Red Door Family Shelter, and his lawyer said he is "delighted the matter was resolved."

"I do regret the whole night," Molina told reporters after the hearing.

Hilton had alleged Mr. Molina punched him in the face outside Cobra, a Toronto nightclub, after the MuchMusic Video Awards on June 22. Hilton immediately sent messages via Twitter indicating that he had been in a fight with the Peas’ entourage.

Molina subsequently turned himself in to Toronto police and was later charged with assault.

Days later, Hilton filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Molina, alleging battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The suit said Molina punched Hilton several times, injuring an eye "in what can only be described as a spineless act."

The allegations have not been proven in court.

Hilton has said Molina was angry with him for making negative comments about the band’s latest album, The E. N. D., which debuted at No. 1 on the U. S. pop chart in June. The blogger also has admitted to calling Black Eyed Peas frontman will. i. am an anti-gay slur at a club the night of the altercation.