Chris Brown charged with felonies in alleged attack on Rihanna

Update: Brown beat, bit and threatened to kill Rihanna, prosecutors allege.

Nearly a month after pop star Rihanna was found battered and bleeding on a Hancock Park street, prosecutors have charged singer Chris Brown with felony assault and making criminal threats.

The charges carry a sentence ranging from probation to almost five years in prison, according to prosecutors. Brown, who is free on $50,000 bail, is due to be arraigned on the charge this afternoon in Los Angeles Superior Court. Brown was arrested Feb. 8, the day of the Grammy Awards, after LAPD officers responded to a 911 call reporting an assault on a quiet, tree-lined street near Beverly Boulevard.

When officers arrived, they found an injured Rihanna and Brown’s rented Lamborghini, but no sign of the R&B singer.

According to a search warrant obtained by Fox 11 News, the assault began when Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, read Brown a text message while they were driving home from a pre-Grammy party in Beverly Hills. The content of the message apparently enraged Brown, 19, who, according to the warrant, tried to force Rihanna out of the car. Only her seat belt kept her inside the vehicle, the warrant alleged. Brown punched her several times while he was driving, splattering the interior of the luxury vehicle with blood, according to the warrant.

During the alleged attack, Rihanna phoned her assistant and told her to call police, according to the warrant. Brown continued to assault her, biting her ear and fingers and, at one point, threatening to kill her, the warrant alleged.

Brown surrendered to police that evening and was booked for suspicion of criminal threats. He subsequently issued a statement apologizing for the incident.  Rihanna, who has never been identified publicly by police, was treated at a medical facility after the incident, a police source said. The gossip website TMZ.com published a photo of the 21-year-old’s bruised and scratched face. The Police Department launched an ongoing investigation to determine if any of its personnel sold or otherwise leaked the picture.

-- Harriet Ryan and Richard Winton

Comments

[nat turner]

They always try to charge two offenses . It is a psychological tick with statist persecutors who somehow think it will be easier to plea bargain . This young woman bought into the thug culture and I hope she gets away from it now . Brown is a punk coward .

[GNG]

He needs to go to prison.

[wvumounties8]

I hope they throw the book at this fool. He's definitely NOT a man for beating up a woman.

[carolyn jones - Hawthorne, CA]

Good any boy who beats up a woman should be charged and sent to prison; A real man does not beat up women! I hope he gets the maximum time allowed - Maybe in prison he can become a real man; - or stay there for life! Rhianna get yourself a real man - not another one like this jerk - everyone stop buying his senseless CD's

[Tamara]

GOOD ! I'm so glad the DA went forward with the charges. Fenty gave them an earful, they've got plenty of evidence. I hope he gets the max sentence. It's my understanding that Brown threatening to kill Fenty is even more serious than punching her in the face.

[Tamara]

GOOD ! I'm so glad the DA went forward with the charges. Fenty gave them an earful, they've got plenty of evidence. I hope he gets the max sentence. It's my understanding that Brown threatening to kill Fenty is even more serious than punching her in the face.

[JeffDaChef]

I was watching an entertainment show on HLN last night and one the commentators said she was sure Brown wasn't going to get jail time. But after seeing the police report and what the officers have charged him with, I don't see how he's going to get off probation and community service.

[Able Cine]

CB going to the big house where the big boys will set him straight with constant beat downs.

Way to go CB.

Abel Cine

[audry]

i am suppose to be understanding i know but i cannot for the life of me understand why would she go back with him? she is not lacking of male love and support in her life...so why.....i really liked her...but now i pity her....honestly...after reading this, how he treated her, how could she go back? its not like she needs him to have her career going....since she wants to be with him, the media should then stop giving attention to her case and leave her be...she is embracing her own abuse so why should you give light to her for sympathy when other women who leave the abuse behind are not getting this support....i am sorry i just cant understand this...

[WANDA]

ALL I'M GOING TO SAY IS.. YOUNG IKE TURNER...

[Marie]

I hope this guy pays for what he did and nothing is dismissed because he's a "celebrity." Don't let him get off like so many other
"celebrities" have in the past!! So many people are making excuses for this guy, "he was innocent, only protecting himself from this crazy **tch!!" If the evidence proves he beat her up, then he's guilty and should pay. These two need to stay apart, do we really need another Ike and Tina?

[Nancy]

Rihanna needs psychological help if she stays with someone like Chris Brown. These men never change, is in their nature when they grew up in domestic violance. She is too young, life is too beutiful much more to offer her than to stay with a punk fool!

[Sabrina]

Chris Brown is an absolute low life! If anyone still thinks he's innocent after threatening to MURDER someone, then they are in complete denial. It doesn't matter if Rihanna allegedly "started it" what matters is that he tried to FINISH HER!!! I hope he rots in prison.

[Desi]

I hope Rihanna doesn't go back to Chris. She deserves someone better than him. I hope his career goes down the drain. He doesn't deserve anything good to come his way. You don't put your hands on anybody like that. Especially someone you claim to love.

[Candy Apple]

Seriously, obviously Rihanna knows more than we do. ou cannot go off of just what the tabloids say, especially because they intesify it more than it is. We have only heard subsequntial facts from one side/party and until you know the whole truth you can't make any jufdements. Of course she isn't lacking male interaction however there is obviously a reason she is back with him.. Please people use your head and stop going off of everything you hear in the media. Geez!!! Both Chris and Rihanna are wonderful people and I wish them the best, and if the charges are dropped so be it. Go on with your life because they have. =)

[Towani]

They have to at least make him serve time as long as Paris Hilton did. They will all look worthless and stupid in California if they don't.

[Ali]

I hope he goes to jail for a few years... I never want to hear his music again (will never buy it and will boycott any station that plays it). Maybe someone can beat the crap out of him in jail so he can see how it feels.

[Mulan]

Stop everything its all stupid no one no's what happened you do know if the pictures are doctered

[Dynomoose]

This young woman has a golden opportunity to help other young women going through abuse. I hope she is able to bring herself to do so.

[janet]

i thought he was a really sweet guy. hearing his music and seeing them 2gather. but after this incident, my outlook has changed and i think he has to get wat he deserves. they are just trying to sugar coat it because he is famous. in the other hand rhianna is a very beautiful woman who has many other man who would love to be w/her and would probably treat her way better than CB. i don't understand how rhianna can have such low self esteem!!!!!

[Anthony Brown]

GODSPEED to Chris Brown & Family as well as Rihanna & Family. I wish you BOTH WELL.

[AMC]

I dont think they should give Brown time in jail. When the public should take thing seriously they don't. Yes he did do wrong and im sure he have admitted that plenty of time. Rihanna i love you so much and i wish you best of luck but i fell like coming from a girl point of view. i feel like everything has not been said. I am in a relationship and i do thing to make my boyfriend mad, just like reading text message and maybe hitting him when i get mad. Brown and Rihanna has a year and months of things the public don't know. So stop judging both of them cause don't nobody know but them. I love both of them by the way and not taking no side.

[corieonia]

um miss carolynn jones this is made for you....and anybody else...and my eye i dont blame chris or rihanna..cuz its not my business..but i will say dat what chris brown has done is wrong..and know he's paying for it..i really do believe he is changing and becoming better..he made one mistake and probably wasnt thinking at the time but everyone should forgive and forget..the past and seem like rihanna has forgiven her man..she's not speaking she's not posting any comments..about da incident or towards chris..no one has da right to say what dey are saying because he didnt touch any of so shut da fuck up i say...signing out TOP NOTCH REDBONE...love u chris

[corieonia]

i love chris my feelings will never change..for this man...and yes i said man..signing out..TOP NOTCH REDBONE..love u chris