Chris Brown Pleads Guilty in Rihanna Assault Case

June 22, 2009

Chris Brown entered a plea deal today at what was supposed to be a preliminary hearing in the case of assaulting ex-girlfriend singer Rihanna. The plea subjects the singer to probation for five years and to perform 180 days and 1,400 hours of “labor-oriented service,” such as graffiti and trash removal.

Previously, Brown had pleaded not guilty to felony counts of assault and making criminal threats in connection with an attack on Rihanna.

However, under his plea deal, he pleaded guilty to one count of assault with the intent of doing great bodily injury, which was in connection with the argument inside a rented Lamborghini in West Hollywood, CA in February.

“In Session” news anchor Jami Floyd said today on HLN “Prime News” that the preliminary hearing did not even occur, and the first words uttered by the Judge when journalists were allowed into the courtroom were, “So have we reached a deal?”

Floyd said the sentence for Brown was typical of first time abuse offenders.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg addressed Rihanna, 21, after dismissing Brown, 20, explaining that she issued a 100-yard “stay-away” order for him. Rihanna, whose legal name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, requested through her attorney that such an order not be issued. The judge refused the request, but revised the order to require only a 50-yard distance between Rihanna and Brown, except at music industry events where the distance will be reduced to 10-yards. Schnegg said Rihanna should not contact him, and she will consider lifting the order after Brown finishes domestic violence counseling. The judge also told Rihanna it is not a one-way order, and that she should not get any closer to Brown than allowed.

The order will probably be broken because just recently Rihanna and Chris were both at the same NBA finals game between Orlando Magic and L.A. Lakers, and although sat separately were probably hanging around one another.

Schnegg also ordered Brown to return to CA every three months to attend domestic violence counseling for a year.

"I want Mr. Brown treated as any other defendant who comes to this court," Schnegg said. However, she stated that he has no prior criminal record.

Rihanna did not file a complaint against Brown, but the prosecution's case was built on information she told detectives and on physical evidence from her, including photographs of her battered face.

According to a sworn statement by Los Angeles Police Detective DeShon Andrews, Rihanna did not call the police, and it was someone who heard her screaming for help.

The statement, filed with the court to support a search warrant for cell phone records, illustrated the vicious attack against Rihanna, allegedly by Brown.

Andrews said the incident began when Brown and Rihanna were driving in the rented car, and she found a text message on his cell phone from "a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with."

The statement said, "A verbal argument ensued," followed by a physical attack. It described the assault in detail, saying Brown put her head in a head lock, restricted her breathing causing her to lose consciousness and punched her numerous times. He also bit her ear and her fingers, and he threatened to "beat the s--t out of you" and kill her, according to the statement.

After, "Robyn F. began screaming for help and Brown exited the vehicle and walked away. A resident in the neighborhood heard Robyn F.'s plea for help and called 911, causing a police response. An investigation was conducted and Robyn F. was issued a Domestic Violence Emergency Protective Order."

At the end of his statement, the detective said Brown sent a text message nine days later, apologizing.

And did he think the stupid text made it all better? He is an animal. Who beats and bites people?

Today on “Prime News” with Mike Galanos on HLN, psychologist Cooper Lawrence responded to the recent Chris Brown YouTube video saying people were “haters” of his music by saying that people are not hating him because of his music, it is because “you beat-up your ex-girlfriend.”

She also said, “All I see is narcissism. I don’t see someone who understands the consequence of his actions.”

If you actually picture the assault events in the statement, I think you’ll cry. I hope people are not stupid enough to financially support Chris Brown. Can you believe our courts jail people possessing weapons without a license, but they tend to not jail first-time offenders in physical abuse cases? What kind of message is that one?