Kane cousins plead in cab driver case

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Chicago Blackhawk Patrick Kane and his cousin took lesser pleas Thursday, for their scuffle with a Buffalo cab driver.

NHL start Patrick Kane and his cousin stood before a judge Thursday afternoon, and plead guilty to disorderly conduct. That is a non-criminal violation, basically equivalent to a traffic ticket. His sentence - write an apology to the cab driver.

News 4 cameras were allowed in court for the plea and the sentencing Thursday. The Assistant District Attorney said that he agreed to offer the plea because it was the wishes of the cab driver, Jan Radecki, and he said he agreed to it because the Kanes have no prior records and because they have taken legal and personal responsibility for their actions.

But no one is saying what they are responsible for doing, now this all stems from the August 9th cab ride in Buffalo where Patrick Kane and his cousin allegedly got into a dispute with the cab driver Radecki says the Kanes went "berserk" over 20 cents and started choking him.

After everything wrapped up on Thursday, Pat Kane said, "It has been a long, tough two and a half weeks for me here, but I'm happy the matter is finally behind me. I think that obviously, I want to apologize again to my family, the city of Buffalo, my teammates, the whole Blackhawks organization, obviously all of the fans out there, my fans especially, just for being in a regrettable situation. But it's behind me, it's time to move on. I look forward to being a part of the Blackhawks and hopefully representing my team in the Olympics, just moving forward with my life and putting this all behind me."

The Kanes could have faces 15 days in jail, but instead the judge gave them a conditional discharge, that means that they can not get in trouble for up to a year and they must also write an apology to Jan Radecki. Kane's attorney says that Patrick will be writing that apology within the next few days, before he heads back to Chicago.