For those of you who have been following the Chris Brown/Rihanna assault case, Brown copped a plea less than two hours before the start of a scheduled hearing. Rihanna was there and was set to testify.
Chris Brown will do six months of “community labor” but no time behind bars for assaulting the pop star Rihanna under the terms of a plea agreement reached this afternoon.
The R&B singer reached a deal with prosecutors less than two hours before the scheduled start of a hearing, in which his former girlfriend was prepared to testify about the violent altercation that left her bruised, bloodied and screaming for help last February on a Hancock Park side street.
Under the agreement, Brown, 20, will serve five years’ probation and take a year-long domestic violence prevention class. L.A. County Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg also ordered him to stay at least 50 yards away from Rihanna, 21, for the next five years.
After a lawyer for Rihanna said the singer thought the order was too severe given that they often attend the same industry functions, the judge said that at such public events Brown was required to stay only 10 yards away.
The judge said Brown can complete his sentence in his native Virginia, where he owns a home.
MTV was in the courtroom and has more details HERE. According to Rihanna’s attorney, she didn’t think the stay away order was necessary, but oh well–guess she won’t be hooking up with Brown anytime soon. As it should be. He got off pretty easy (well, easier than if I ruled the world…)