Avoiding jail time for assaulting Rihanna, Chris Brown is sentenced to five years probation and 180 days of community service to be served in Virginia with formal sentencing set for August 5.
- Jun 23, 2009
AceShowbiz - It's official, Chris Brown has reached plea deal in the assault case that involves him and ex-girlfriend Rihanna. It was announced on Monday, June 22, that the male R 'n' B performer will avoid jail time in the much talked February 8 incident and will instead be sentenced to five years probation and 180 days of community labor to be served in his home state Virginia.
Chris, additionally, will have to complete a year of domestic violence classes, and pay fines. He was also ordered to stay at least 50 yards away from Rihanna, except at industry gatherings when the distance is shortened to 10 yards, and not to have any contact with her, which includes phone, e-mail and text communications. His formal sentencing is set for August 5 later this year, at time of which the court will drop one of the felony charges he is facing, that is making criminal threats.
Detailing Chris' community service, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg who accepted his plea ordered Chris to clean up graffiti or roadside trash. The judge required him to return to California every three months to check in with authorities. Chris will face four years in prison should he violate the term of his probation.
Commenting on the reached plea deal, Chris' attorney Mark Geragos told reporters, his celebrity client is "very thankful to all the people who've been very supportive." Mark continued, "This is a kid who's never been in trouble before, who wants to move past this and make sure that the message gets out that these kinds of things, of domestic violence, are not acceptable. And that he has accepted responsibility and continues to do so and embraces this as an opportunity for him to get his life back on track and his career back on track."
Chris Brown faced two felonies; assault and making criminal threats, for assaulting Rihanna during a heated argument back in early February this year. He initially faced a possible 4 years and 8 months in prison should he is found guilty for both charges. Rihanna, who briefly appeared before the judge during the Monday's hearing, was told that she was also the subject to the order of not making contact with Chris. She could be in violation should she contact him. "Rihanna was advised of the agreement and had no objection to it," her attorney, Donald Etra, told reporters outside the courthouse.
