Brown entered his plea before a preliminary hearing was scheduled to start
in
Rihanna had been on standby to testify.
Brown will be sentenced on Aug. 5, but the terms of the plea deal call for
him to serve five years of formal probation and six months — roughly 1,400
hours — of community labor. Brown will be able to complete his probation in his
home state of
A spokeswoman for the
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg also ordered the singer to
stay away from Rihanna.
After Brown entered his plea and left the courtroom, Rihanna entered and was
addressed by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg, who explained
to the Barbados-born singer that she had issued a stay-away order.
Rihanna, 21, had not been seeking a stay-away order, but the judge imposed
one. The order requires that Brown and Rihanna stay at least 50 yards from
each except at industry events when the distance is reduced to 10 yards.
The judge also told Rihanna it's not a one-way order, and she will be in
violation if she gets closer to Brown than the order allows.
Rihanna was informed of the deal about an hour before she could have been called as
a witness, her attorney, Donald Etra, said. He said the singer "did not
object" to the terms of the deal.
Schnegg accepted Brown's plea but expressed some concerns because Brown is
not a
Brown spoke softly throughout the hearing as he waived his rights and told
the judge he understood the gravity of his plea.
"I think it's commendable you took responsibility for your
conduct," Schnegg told Brown.
She said she hoped "the terms and conditions of your probation will
have some meaning."
The deal provides an end to a case that sparked intense media interest and
severe backlash against Brown. Sponsors and radio stations dropped him, and the
singer had to cancel several high-profile appearances, including a performance
at the Grammys.
The singer once known for his squeaky clean image now has a substantial
blemish on his record. He must now also remain out of trouble for the foreseeable
future.
Lawyers for Brown and Rihanna have refused to discuss the status of the
pair's relationship.
Brown was arrested Feb. 8, hours after police say he hit and threatened Rihanna
after leaving a pre-Grammy party in
If convicted, the singer faced sentences ranging up to nearly five years in
prison.
Brown, 20, rose to fame after the 2005 hit "Run It!" and his
popularity has only grown. He was nominated for a Grammy for "No Air"
with Jordin Sparks and named Billboard's top artist in 2008.
In the months since the incident, both musicians have gradually appeared in
public more frequently. Lately they have been photographed separately,
including at a National Basketball Association finals game between the Orlando
Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.
Rihanna, 21, recorded one of 2007's most popular songs with
"Umbrella" and has numerous other hits. Her looks have made her a
cover girl for magazines, as well as a pitchwoman for Cover Girl cosmetics.
______
In photo: Chris Brown leaves
his preliminary hearing after pleading guilty to one count of felony assault on
Monday, June 22, 2009, in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Copyright 2009 Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast,
rewritten, or redistributed.
