Chris Brown sentenced to 5 years' probation in attack on Rihanna [Corrected]

Pop singer Chris Brown was sentenced today to five years of probation and 180 days community labor -- to be personally supervised by the chief of police in Richmond, Va. -- in connection with his attack on former girlfriend Rihanna.

Brown reached a plea deal with L.A. prosecutors in June that was expected to limit his sentence to probation and no jail time. Under the agreement, Brown, 20, will serve five years' probation and take a yearlong domestic violence prevention class.

L.A. County Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg also ordered him to stay at least 100 yards away from Rihanna, 21, for the next five years. [Corrected at 3:15 p.m.: A previous version of this post said he was to stay 50 yards away from Rihanna].

Brown was arrested in February for beating and threatening Rihanna, also a pop singing star, during an argument in a rented Lamborghini. The incident 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 as scores of celebrity reporters awaited the couple's arrival on the red carpet.

Had he been convicted of felony assault and criminal threats, Brown would have faced a maximum of five years in prison.

-- Victoria Kim at L.A. County Superior Court

Photo: Chris Brown in court in March. Credit: Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Rhianna]

Another prosecutor and judge that were bought by Chris's people. They will probably have their own show.

[David]

Seems to me like justice was bought. He should be in jail.

[brittanyanderson]

Damn. I don't even know what to say anymore.

[Corve DaCosta]

Should have gotten more!!

[Chris Almond]

Was the judge aware that Brown and Rihanna have seen each other since the felony assault?

Why wasn't this petulant and unrepentant jerk not required to pay a fine and give a large donation to a battered women's shelter?

And can he continue to make his music and videos and date other young women who can't wait to find a catch like Brown?

Even Michael Vick got to serve jail time and a hefty fine for abusing dogs!

Does this mean young African American women can be assaulted and threatened but their attacker can get off easier than assaulting a female dog?

Ah, no wonder we are in the sad shape we're in. And don't for a second think that the judge in this farce is as much to blame for creating an atmosphere
of anything goes - and "just us" for all."

[wanna be beater]

Is it just me, or is it just that people don't care? Either that or money and fame really matter and the rest of us should just shut up and eat cake

[Juliy]

THA'NT NOTHING!!! HE SHOULD GONE TO JAIL YA!!!!

[Matt]

See, it doesn't matter what color you are. It matters who you are and how much money you are willing to part with.

[banjobailey]

His community service is to be "physical labor", this is good. He will serve this sentence in Virginia, overseen by the Çhief of Police in Richmond. He has been ordered to stay away from Rihanna for 5 years and the judge stated that she "was not amused by the chatter" about him being around Rihanna recently.
Will any of this stop him? Probably not. Will he see himself as anything more than a "victim"? Probably not.
Will he end up in state prison because he chooses to violate the terms of his probation? Probably yes. And, the sooner the better.

[what?]

Plaxico gets 2 years of his life taken away for taking a gun into a club and shooting himself accidentally in the leg. Harming no one but himself.

Chris Brown gets probation for beating the crap out of Rihanna.

Our justice system/prison business is extremely flawed.

[Paleta Fresca]

Nice... Money talks, Chris Brown walks. What a slap in the face to women and law-abiding people everywhere. He should have gotten two or three years minimum.

[sandra gause]

PEOPLE BE SO QUICK TO JUDGE A PERSON UNTIL THEY DO NOT REALIZE THERE IS TWO SIDE TO EVERY STORY YES CHRIS DID WRONG BUT WHAT DO RHIANNA DO. I JUST DON'T BELEIVE HE JUST HIT HER FOR FUN LIKE SOME PEOPLE GET ABUSED

[DR]

Jesus ic coming soon...

[Xtian]

I want his attorney if I ever get in trouble!!!

[its_umama]

If Vick got prison for beating a dog and Plaxico does time for shooting HIMSELF, then what's wrong with THIS PICTURE??? I guess the message has been sent. this judge says: "Keep on beatin' your woman, but for GOSH SAKES! Don't hurt her dog and for Heaven's sakes....don't hurt ya self!!"

[book thrower]

at the very least, a thug like this ought to have to pay the costs he has dumped on the community: the cost of the police response and the court's time. i'd lock him up for a couple of months too, just to give him a little taste.

and what is it with the rented cars? would anybody in their right mind rent a car to this hothead?

[redd037]

You know in this country we cater to criminals. Its is a dam shame when a dog has presidence over a human. So if you have enuogh money you can beat the hell out of women and just pay off the justice system and get off? Isn't that something.

[V]

I just wished that I would have heard from Rihanna what really happened that night. It might not have been that bad if they were still seeing each other after the incident. I think his sentence is ridiculous.

[The Man]

I also believe that this woman should have been charged as well...this society got to stop thinking that women aren't the blame. They need to be accountable for their own actions. Mr Brown was wrong...he deserves what he got...but this woman was wrong too...now all she is doing is living off the publicity of this for her own personal reasons...going on ship rides, on the beach, enjoying life, when we forget that it takes two to tangle. This is sad for our society to react like she didn't have anything to do with why she was beaten...Mr. Brown, I hope you learned from this and stay away from women like this who will ruin your career for their own purposes. I have no feelings for this woman which I feel is not the abusisee-but the abuser who perpretrated this whole thing to enhance a failing career and now wants to use her feminitity to 'Get Ahead'...she's not even that beautiful with those phony lips...

[Jonathan]

I read all the other comments posted here and I am really glad that there are others out here today that feel the same as I do. I do not care who you are Celebrity or just a person out here. It is very sad that things like this happen in this world still today. A young woman beat and hurt the way she was. He should have indeed spent time in jail and like the one individual brought up about Michael Vick believe me he got what he deserved, but here is someone that hurt a human being and this is all he gets. This is truly a sad thing to hear.

[dee dee]

please leave chris brown the hell alone! why are you guys trying to judge him so harshly... i'm so sick of hearing this story, if Rhianna forgave who the hell are we to still sit in judgement... i support him and his record career...

[Reese]

I believe the sentence was fair for a first time offender, now he can get the help he truly needs.

[Reese]

I believe the sentence was fair for a first time offender, now he can get the help he truly needs.

[Yvonne]

I think that the Judge was fair in this case. He will think twice before he hits anyone. As far as justice being bought. Well it could had been less then five years probation. Look at Art Kelly and what he got away with. What I'm saying let him do his time and let his career go on. He has been Judged. Learn from your mistake Mr.Brown. I wish the Best for Brown and Rihanna. Let's move on!

[www.naijabreed.com]

Five years! but i think he will learn a lesson. May God be with him.

[Petery]

In this case, this woman-beater coward will do it again.

[Edward L. Jackson]

This is a travesty. Mr. Brown should have been heavily fined and jailed.
He is not remorseful in the least........ although I am fairly certain he "feels
bad for himself." One can be assured that he will learn little from this incident,
however the real tragedy may well be that neither will Rihanna as she appears
to be as "lost" as he is!

[dave]

Another O.J. ? This is how it starts.