Chris Brown risks spending time in prison after being accused of stealing a woman's mobile. Miami prosecutors are speaking to witnesses following an incident on Sunday morning, when the singer – who is currently on probation – allegedly took an iPhone from a fan who took his photograph.
Christal Spann has taken the matter to Miami Beach police, complaining of an altercation with Brown outside the Cameo nightclub. Spann claims she snapped a photo of Brown as he came out of the club and climbed into a black Bentley. The R&B star then "reached though his car window and snatched her phone from her hands," according to a police report. As the car pulled away, Brown allegedly sneered, "Bitch, you ain't going to put that [photo] on no website."
"My prosecutors are currently speaking with witnesses and reviewing all of the materials supplied by Miami Beach police," state attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle told NBC Miami on Thursday afternoon. "Only after these reviews have been completed would any type of action be considered or taken." Access Hollywood reported that prosecutors are "preparing an arrest warrant".
Although there is nothing particularly serious about a dispute with an amateur paparazzo, Brown has more at stake than a fine or some community service. He did not serve time for the violent assault of his former girlfriend Rihanna in 2009: after pleading guilty, the singer was sentenced to five years' probation. Probation officers in California are paying close attention to these events in Florida, TMZ reports. If Brown is found to have stolen Spann's phone, in violation of his probation, he could be sentenced to as much as four years in jail.
Brown has had a bumpy two weeks following his "second chance" comeback at 12 February's Grammy awards. Fans, journalists, musicians and wrestlers have spoken out against the rehabilitation of Brown's public image, particularly given the singer's apparent lack of remorse. Brown's response to certain recent criticism was to tweet, "HATE ALL YOU WANT BECUZ I GOT A GRAMMY Now! That's the ultimate FUCK OFF!"
And yet despite this public indignation, the actual victim of Brown's violence appears to have forgiven him. Rihanna recently released a new track featuring Brown, and the star also guests on a remix of Brown's latest single.
