Lawyers representing R&B singer Chris Brown announced a last-minute plea deal yesterday, forestalling the expected testimony of his former girlfriend, pop star Rihanna. Brown pleaded guilty to one count of felony assault, avoiding a prison sentence. Instead, Brown will serve up to five years of supervised probation and six months of community labour.
Brown stated his plea in a Los Angeles court, with Rihanna also present in the room. Judge Patricia M Schnegg imposed a stay-away order on the pair so that they remain at least 50 yards from each other. That distance is reduced to just 10 yards at industry events, but Schnegg warned Rihanna that she would be in violation of the order if she approached her former assailant.
Police were called to the scene of a domestic quarrel in the early hours of 8 February, where Rihanna – then in a relationship with Brown – was found with injuries to her face. According to a police affidavit, the row began when Rihanna found a text message from another woman on Brown's mobile phone. He later tried to push her from the parked car, choking her, punching her repeatedly and allegedly biting her ear. When Rihanna pretended to phone her assistant for police help, Brown threatened to kill her.
After the hearing, Rihanna's lawyer confirmed that she had not requested the court's stay-away order. Though the singer had previously been granted an order of protection against Brown, the couple briefly reunited in March. Under these new terms, however, Rihanna and Brown would not be allowed even a cordial, long-distance relationship. Besides the restrictions on their physical proximity, the pair are not allowed to contact each other.
In May, Brown made his first direct public comments, thanking his fans and dismissing his detractors. "Everybody that's haters, they just been haters," he said in a video. "I ain't a monster."
Brown's formal sentencing will take place 5 August.
