Chris Brown Avoids Jail Time But Doesn’t Get-Off Easily in Rihanna Assault

The much anticipated media circus that was to be the Chris Brown – Rihanna  assault trial has ended as many anticipated in a plea agreement. Before his ex girlfriend could testify, Brown pleaded guilty to one count of felony assault by means likely to cause great bodily injury, on pop star Rihanna in a plea bargain agreement sparing both stars a potential ugly trial. Brown will be officially sentenced on Aug. 5th, but the terms of the agreement call for him to serve five years of formal probation and six months of community labor.  He will also complete a year of domestic violence classes, and pay fines. A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said the terms were in line with what others receive when they’re charged with similar crimes and who have no prior criminal history.

Brown will be able to complete his probation in his home state of Virginia; he will have to do either graffiti removal or roadside cleanup for his service.  Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg also ordered the both Brown and Rihanna to stay away from each other, despite a request from Rihanna’s lawyer that the pair be allowed in the same place at the same time. .After Brown entered his plea and left the courtroom, Rihanna had been on standby to testify, entered and was addressed by Judge Schnegg, who explained to the Barbados-born singer that she had issued a stay-away order and it’s  not a one-way mandate. The order requires that both Brown and Rihanna stay at least 50 yards from each, except at industry events when the distance is reduced to 10 yards.

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