Chris Brown begins community service amid TV crews and extra security in Virginia

Chris Brown began performing his community service this week in connection with his sentence for assaulting Rihanna -- and it attracted some media and fan attention where he was performing his work in Virginia.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg sentenced Brown to five years' probation and ordered him to do 180 days of community labor -- to be directly supervised by the police chief in Richmond, Va.

His first days of work drew reporters, requiring officials to provide extra protection for the pop star.

According to Associated Press:

The 20-year-old R&B singer worked along with two others who were serving probation, clearing tall weeds and brush by hand and with yard tools. Additional officers were on hand, but only a few fans and television crews gathered nearby. Dressed in an orange vest, white tank top, baggy jeans and red baseball cap, Brown did not speak to the media but he waved to fans who saw him working. Brown's schedule, including work hours and days, will be flexible, and he will be performing different types of manual labor, Richmond police spokesman Gene Lepley said.... Brown must pay for the extra guards who work while he is performing community service.

Judge Schnegg repeatedly made it clear at that she wanted Brown to perform physical labor, rather than community service, in Virginia, where his family lives and he has a permanent home. She said she had received a letter from Richmond Police Chief Bryan Norwood indicating that the singer would be removing graffiti, picking up trash, washing cars or maintaining grounds. 

Brown also will go through a 52-week domestic violence program sponsored by Commonwealth Catholic Charities in Virginia. 

Schnegg ordered Brown to stay at least 100 yards away from Rihanna, unless they are attending an "entertainment industry event," when the restriction is 10 yards. Saying that she was not immune to "chatter on the airwaves" about his whereabouts, the judge sternly advised Brown that violating any probation terms would put him in prison.

--Shelby Grad

Photo: Chris Brown in court in April. Credit: Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press.

More headlines from L.A. Now

L.A. council candidate gets TV ad support from Assembly colleague as competitor cries foul

Father, two children found slain in Thousand Oaks

Bones found at the home of suspected kidnappers Phillip and Nancy Garrido

Schwarzenegger urges Brown to investigate ACORN

L.A. council votes to impose furloughs and layoffs while talks continue on early retirement plan

Downtown denizens welcome new park -- even if it's in front of LAPD headquarters

Comments

[tonia rogers]

hay i love u

[nlvryda]

Ha ha....he looked pissed in his pictures and video coverage. Y is it these celebs don't like to take responsibility for their actions?

[Erich Elster]

The judge seems very power hungry. Judges have too much power in our country.

[jeff]

Brown and I have the same Criminal Court judge. Why is it that White people think humiliation changes, rather than excaserbates bad behavior.? Maybe they just enjoy humiliating people. Have you ever been in a White home? They're very good at it.

[Nicole S Anthony]

i looooove chris brown n datz all i have 2 say

[Rob]

Do people think that he doesn't deserve to be punished?! At the very least he deserves to do community service. He's lucky he's not in jail. If he doesn't stop his violent behavior, he very well may find himself locked up someday.

Domestic violence is not a small matter. Time to grow up and take responsibility.

[Cathy]

What do you mean he looks pissed nlvryda??? He was waving to his fans and was happy as hell... he even twitted about it... He is taking ownership for his actions so why don't the media, press and ignorant people back off of him already... The kid is young and is living up to is actions.... one gotta live and learn... and then move foward... stop trying to hold him back... he is not a bad individual... damn...

[neisha]

hey chris brown is still mi one sing so it hard for him knw he mean too do wat he da. let hater chris. luv u

[MdW]

This is not an issue of color but rather one of Gender, and although I don't agree with Mr. Brown's actions I do understand how it can happen.

[Essence]

To: nlvryda

What are u talking about?? Chris is taking responsibility 4 his actions. Just cuz he's not smiling in the pic doesnt mean he's pissed. When you are getting sentenced I dont think your suppose to be smiling and I also dont think you would be smiling if you had paparazzi all up in your face making comments. I mean come on lets be real. He's taking responsibility. He was admitted to his faults.

[iluvbreezy]

i still love his sexy ***

[kenita]

ilove u sexy

[Angela]

I am very proud that Chris is a man to his word. This may seem embarrasing but it shows a lot of dignity. Keep proving yourself Chris, because we all have made mistakes sometime in our life.

[rb]

Hey, Jeff. Chris should be ebarrassed for beating Rihanna. What he did was inhumane. How do you think Rihanna felt? Humiliated? And, what do you think other women who are beaten and abused feel? Humiliated? By the way, Whites aren't the only ones who humiliate others. Get real.

[Amanda]

Chris Brown accepted his punishment, he's doing what judicial system deemed fit for his crime. He may not be doing what you thing is fair but... it wasn't left up to the public. I'm not taking sides in this matter, abuse is wrong regardless to who is doing... This wouldn't be making the media daily if it was anyone besides a celebrity. Where is the constant picture of a rapist who rapes a 6 year old child " A child rapist has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to raping a six-year-old girl."Oklahoma Man Gets Probation for Vicious Rape of Six-Year-Old Girl"Forty-four-year-old Vincent Martin LeCompte was charged with felony first-degree rape. As part of a plea agreement, LeCompte was handed a 20-year suspended sentence." That was this year in March, but... we didn't read about this daily... These are the things we should be caring about not about Chris Brown doing his labor... I wonder what the family of this child thought when reading about CB, at least he's doing labor along with his probation and recieving therapy.... I'm sure their daughter will be in therapy for years behind this!

[Eleanor]

what Chris did was wrong...but the judges and everyone around him have come down on him so hard. Since when did folks get 180 days AND 5 years probation for this sort of offence??? They are making an example of him & I do feel sorry for him. He is a very young man that has made a mistake, he is trying to make amends, he has accepted his punishment & should be cut some slack!

[myeisha]

No matter wut anybody says chris brown is still the best

[JCKrrumper#6]

Lifes tough Chris U messed up!

[Aureona Burroughs]

Well about this issue i believe that Chris Brown is doing a great job on making the situation better, but in my world I feel that Rihanna shouldn't have hit Vhris no disrespect to Rihanna because her style is what's hot but Chris can't be put aside from love neither can Rihanna. The best way to deal with this is just letting them be as one. Chris Brown I Love Him, he is my Taurus match.

[Lisa v]

Jeff: Why do you equate working hard with humiliation? Most people that have to do community service end up doing some kind of labor activity. Often celebrities get to things like give speeches, I think this judge felt it was important Chris was given equal treatment and not just celebrity treatment.

[samer]

i think its messed up how chris<3 gets 5 years of probation. hes young and deserves to live his life. hes not the first and defenitly not the last.dont get me wrong i think people should back for this kind of stuff, butt him...way to much!!

[samer]

i lOve chris <3 i lOve him!!! i lOve!!! him i lOve him!!! he my bOO.

[keke]

i luv u

[tamara fair]

chris brown i love you but i also like rihanna...............

[Miss Diva]

I wonder why Chris Brown is the only one getting in trouble. I mean sure he did something bad, but he didn't do it by his self. I believe they both should get something. Everyone forgot that Rihanna had something to do with the situation to so what is her punishment? Chris Brown is human just like everyone else.

[Kristina Spaeth]

I think this one way for chris brown to do his time. But I think he is still hot.

[kia]

i think chris is a good guy because he is taking responsibility of what he did that was wrong in many ways and I'am sure that he knows what he did.But all i have to say is that chris is a great guy and I'm happy that he is not in jail.But at least all he has to do is some hard labor.Im still going to be his fan no matter what even if he stop making music for right now

[mariah]

I L O V E Y O U C H R I S B R O W N

[Stephanie]

I STILL MAD ABOUT THE FACT THT MY HUSBAND (CHRIS BROWN) HAS TO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE 4 A PROBLEM THT INVOLVED THE BOTH OF THEM.. I STILL DNT THINK ITS FARE THT HE HAS TO SERVE 5 YEARS 4 SOME STUPID STUFF AND THERE STILL IS PEOPLE THT DOES WAY MORE THEN HIM.... I LOVEEE U CHRIS BROWN AND IM STANDIN BEHIND U 10000000000%

[Stephanie]

I LOVEEEE UUUUU CHRIS BROWNNNNNNN

[angela flores]

hey chrisbrown i love youhh.

[mya]

it not like yall seatin rihanna about this chris brown wasnt the only one that was wrong so while sweatin chris yall should be sweatin rihanna to because she anit no goody goody. And another thing are us supposed to smile when you about to get your sentence i woul think not so yall need to back off of chris brown

ps.i steal iuv chris i knoe you learned from your misakes dont sweat it

[[MIAMI]BARBIE]

THIS IS FOR ONE OF THE COMMENTS BELOW NO I DO NOT THINK THAT CHRIS SHOULD BE PUNISHED THAT HARSHED FOR ATTACKING RIHANNA BECAUSE I MEAN FOR ONE WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS: EVERYONE KNOWS CHRIS BROWN AS [GOOFY] & [FUNNY] YUH HAVE TO THINK WHAT RIHANNA COULD HAVE POSSIBLY DONE CHRIS TO MAK HIM GO IN A RAGE LIKE THAT? I MEAN THE MEDIA ONLY KNOWS WHAT CHRIS DID, DO ANYONE KNOW WHAT RIHANNA DID? I MEAN COME ON SHE IS NOT AS INNOCENT AS SHE LOOK. SO FOR ALL OF YOU AGAINST HIM I THINK YOU SHOULD THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU START TO SPEAK. I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE WANTED TO END HIS CARRER ANY WAY. SO NEXT TIM THINK. AND FORMER RAPPER JAY-Z IF ANYONE RACALL BACK WHEN HE SLAPPED A GIRL I DONT REMEMBER ANY PUNISHMENT GIVEN TO HIM BUT WHY WOULD HE DO IT TO CHRIS? [JELOUSY].

[[MIAMI]BARBIE]

IM GONNA BE CHRIS BIGGEST FAN NO MATTER HOW MANY HE LOST. THEY WEREN'T REAL ANYWAY IF THEY LEFT YOUR SIDE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

[KASASHA]

that is not fair with chris brown getting communtiy service and he told rihanna that he was sorry for hurting her. and i am chris brown #1 fan.

[Yagala Joan]

hey
we love u CB even in Uganda we r by your side

[Yagala Joan]

I a tough time for u but nobody is perfect

[azzie]

; i think that both rihanna and chris brown should have taken responsibility for there action all you hear is what chris brown did i want to hear what part rihanna had in it because someone don't hit someone else unless they are to that point where they caint control themselfs so rihanna had to do something to get chris to that point im not saying what chris did was right he should have went to jail but i do think both of them are at fault for what happen

[amonique stroud]

leave chris alone if this was a regular person they wouldnt have to do all this they would do 72 hours and go to court and if the girl dont show u then they get a slap on the wrist but all this stuff really dont make since his fans still love him and do anything for him cause he hit her for a reason cause she had to do somthing to piss him off but she probavly hit him too and what she get nothing but a commercial fo covergirl her face looks pretty there look like chris didnt do to much damage she still glamorous too me - love kitty katt 101-

[lupita]

you guys are losers! get a life

[Qawnette Rice Travis]

chris if u can read this i just want u to know that every lil nothing is goin to be ok. so keep doin what u have to do.. im not mad @ u and i cant wait intill u have a ather C.D out..i love u chris and im not goin to give up on u and u dont give up on yo self......

[nashh]

I L O VE Y O U C H RI S!!<33 KEEP YOR HEAD UP! B STRONG

[jakema angevine]

i really love u and if u go on my myspace page ur my back ground ur my 1st friend...in my room all u will see is yu chris brown everywhere...im praying for yu n hope that yu wiil make it out of this mess...n im praying that u will meet yu some day bye love jakema from GA