Settlement reached in Chris Brown's alleged beating of Rihanna [Updated]
A plea deal has been reached between Los Angeles prosecutors and pop star Chris Brown, who is accused of assaulting singer Rihanna before the Grammy Awards.
Brown will plead guilty to a felony and receive six months in jail or community labor -- such as graffiti removal or trash pickup -- and five years' formal probation. He will also undergo domestic violence counseling. Judge Patricia Schnegg said he will be allowed to complete counseling, community labor and probation in his native Virginia, but is to be treated there like any other offender.
[Updated at 2:15 p.m.: Schnegg says she plans to issue "a stay-away" order barring Chris Brown from having contact with Rihanna. But an attorney for Rihanna said she doesn't want the order. Sources told The Times that Brown's camp initially rejected the plea agreement and had been mulling the settlement for several days.]
[Updated at 2:26 p.m.: "I think it is comendable you took responsibility for your conduct," Schnegg told Brown.
After Chris Brown left with his entourage, Rihanna was brought into the courtroom and informed of the stay-away order by the judge. “Thank you,” she told the judge and then left through a back door of the courtroom.]
Brown, 20, was arrested in February for allegedly beating and threatening Rihanna during an argument in a rented Lamborghini.
The alleged altercation occurred as the couple drove home from a pre-Grammy party. The news that Rihanna was injured and that Brown was wanted by police surfaced the next day as scores of celebrity reporters awaited the couple's arrival on the red carpet.
If convicted of felony assault and criminal threats, Brown would have faced a maximum of five years in prison.
-- Harriet Ryan and Richard Winton
Photo by Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times
More:
Live courthouse reports from the Chris Brown-Rihanna preliminary hearing
What a joke. Slap on the wrist.
Posted by: Kirk Hann | June 22, 2009 at 02:26 PM
Justice had been served. Now lets pray Rhianna is smart enough to stay away. Chris that good you didnt run from it, dont let it happen again and Im sure God and the world will forgive you!
Posted by: eric | June 22, 2009 at 02:40 PM
so basically, he got away with it, 6 months, what a joke
Posted by: roger | June 22, 2009 at 02:46 PM
so he basically got away with it, 6 months community, a real joke
Posted by: roger | June 22, 2009 at 02:48 PM
He's lucky he agreed to it...he wouldn't do well in Men's Central Jail.
Posted by: Frank Morgan | June 22, 2009 at 02:51 PM
Since the article has been updated to include his guilty plea, how about updating it further by dropping the pretense that the beating is "alleged." It isn't. He's guilty of a brutal beating that would have sent Joe6Pack to jail.
Posted by: lzc | June 22, 2009 at 03:05 PM
Hey Guys There was never a class in High School called Celebrity Life 101. It is what it is. These are the people we choose as our role models when in actuality their not but people with the same problems as regular human beings.
Posted by: Johnny | June 22, 2009 at 03:34 PM
Wow, another celebrity above the law. Is any law enforced in california? We should all beat women since there's no penalty.
Posted by: Hip Hop Pop | June 22, 2009 at 03:44 PM
Two young adults that in a heated argument got way out of hand. He acknowledged that he was guilty of the crime and pleaed. Nothing to gain from putting him in jail. Better that he gets community service ( Shows other that this type of act doesn't pay)
Any way they have (apperantly) forgave eachother maybe some here could in time learn to do the same.
Chris I don't know you boy but if I was your dad I would welcome this outcome and hope that a very important lesson is learned.
Men walk away when angry. any abuse of anyone is wrong.
Posted by: Drew | June 22, 2009 at 03:45 PM
He has to wait 5 years before he smacks her up again. I'm sure he'll do a better job next time.
Posted by: dude | June 22, 2009 at 03:46 PM
Why are you still calling it "alleged"? Brown obviously had to confess to the beating in order to get this plea agreement. What a creepy little coward he is. I hope the next woman who he hits (and he will definitely do it again), beats the hell out of HIM. He's bully and a coward and he got away with a horrible assault.
Posted by: Pam | June 22, 2009 at 04:04 PM
So is he a convicted felon now that he pleaded guilty to the charges? Well I'm sure his lawyer worked out something so that he can get it off of his record.
Posted by: Trumain Wilson | June 22, 2009 at 05:12 PM
I`m not sure whether we are getting the full story as to what led to the fight.
What`s clear is these are 2 kids in love. They still are but unfortunately due to their celebrity life, the media, business, the world decides for them. Poor kids.
Chris should have known better. To Chris - you are no longer a boy. Learn to act responsibly otherwise you will destroy what you have, which many are struggling to have.
Posted by: Justinho | June 23, 2009 at 11:13 PM
2 nice kids who have done well for themselves. Good corrective outcome. Let`s support them.
Posted by: Justinho | June 23, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Hey Chris Brown Is Innocent Maybe Someone Else Hit Rihanna Or She Did It For Money But For Sure Rihanna And Chris Brown Love Each Other<3
Posted by: Cindy Medrano | July 11, 2009 at 01:28 PM