Chris Brown Formally Sentenced For His Assault Conviction
Yesterday Chris Brown was in LA Court to face formal sentencing for his June criminal conviction for assaulting his former girlfriend Rihanna last February. As you may recall, Brown was due to be sentenced earlier this month but was delayed a couple of weeks. Brown was sentenced to 5 years probation, 6 months (or 1,400 hours) of community service and is ordered by the judge to NOT to be in contact with Rihanna for the duration of his 5 year probation (he also must stay at least 10 yards from her if they attend the same event). Here are pics of Brown and his lawyer Mark Geragos in court at yesterday’s sentencing:
Chris Brown will spend 1,400 hours removing graffiti and washing cars for assaulting Rihanna. Brown, 20, was formally sentenced in a Los Angeles courtroom Tuesday to six months of community labor in Virginia after he pleaded guilty in June to one count of felony assault against Rihanna, 21. Brown’s six-month labor sentence will be supervised by the chief of police in Richmond, Va., who wrote to the judge that Brown would perform graffiti removal, cleaning and maintaining grounds, and washing cars. “Brown’s labor hours will be flexible to accommodate his entertainment career,” according to DA spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons. The singer, who looked solemn and wore a black pinstripe suit and matching tie, was also sentenced to five years of probation, a year of domestic violence classes, and was ordered to pay fines. He was accompanied in the courtroom by his mother and at least one bodyguard. As part of his plea bargain with prosecutors, a second felony charge of making criminal threats was dropped. Rihanna was not present for the hearing. Donald Etra, an attorney for the “Umbrella” singer, had previously asked the judge for lesser restrictions on communication and contact between the two singers. However, L.A. Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg ordered Brown not to have any communication with Rihanna for the next five years, which includes phone and email contact. Brown was also ordered not to come within 100 yards of Rihanna – 10 yards if they’re both at the same event. Toward the end of the hearing, Judge Schnegg warned Brown, in an apparent reference to reports that the two singers may have had contact against court order: “I’m not immune to any chatter on the airwaves. Do you understand, Mr. Brown, that any violation of this order is a violation of your probation and it comes with the possible penalty of prison?” Brown responded “Yes.” Asked if Rihanna was disappointed by the stay-away order, her lawyer stated: “There were no surprises today. The decision was up to the court, not Rihanna.” Etra added that Rihanna does have the option of asking the court to soften the stay-away order down the line, but he wouldn’t say if she plans to do so. Etra added that while the order specifically forbids Brown from contacting Rihanna, she was also warned by the court back in June not to contact him.
I have to say, the order that Chris has to stay away from Rihanna for such a long time is surprising, I don’t recall hearing that that was part of any deal previously reported. Also, in the wake of Brown’s sentencing, new documents have come to light chronicling a history of violence between the couple BEFORE he physically assaulted her in February of this year. After the jump, check out the deets of their violent relationship if you dare …
Rihanna and Chris Brown had two previous violent episodes before the Feb. 8 fight, which ultimately led to Brown’s arrest and felony conviction, court documents reveal. The “Umbrella” singer allegedly slapped Brown in a heated argument three months prior to the February incident, according to Brown’s probation review released Tuesday. In that previous fight, which occurred in Europe, Brown responded by pushing Rihanna into a wall, the documents say. The couple “were involved in a verbal dispute and [she] slapped [him].” Brown “responded by shoving her into a wall.” A second fight occurred about three weeks prior to the Feb. 8 incident. Brown and Rihanna “were visiting Barbados and were driving a Range Rover loaned to them,” according to the documents. “They had an argument inside the car. [Brown] exited and broke the front driver and passenger side windows of the car. No one was injured during the incident.” The documents also reveal that in the Feb. 8 incident, which began after Brown allegedly received a text message from a previous lover, that Rihanna “said she became ‘enraged’ and slammed both of her fists against the dashboard,” which led to Brown pulling the Lamborghini over and trying to force her out, which escalated into a physical fight. Lawyers for both Rihanna, 21, and Brown, 20, weren’t immediately available for comment. In a June 26 interview with his probation officer, Brown stated that since the Feb. 8 fight, he had been very “depressed.” Brown stated he grew up watching his mother being physically abused and said he did not want to “carry on that cycle.” Brown repeatedly told the officer he regretted the incident, and said he initially wanted to plead guilty right away, but his attorney advised against it. “I want to take responsibility for my mistake,” Brown told the officer, adding he is “totally remorseful for what I have done.”
There had been rumors of violent fights between these two in the days before this last assault so none of this is really surprising. Neither is it surprising that Chris grew up in a violent home, which very likely had an impact on how he turned out. Violence begets violence. It’s not an excuse, just an explanation. Hopefully Chris Brown will finally learn the error of this kind of behavior and will be able to live his life from here on out as a non-violent man. He’s young, there’s still hope.
[Photo credit: Splash News; Source, Source]
Tags: Chris Brown, Mark Geragos
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August 26th, 2009 at 7:53 am
When is Rhianna gonna take responsibility for her actions. It seems two people acted out in a violent manner. (Rhianna slapped Chris) You said it yourself – Violence begets violence.
August 26th, 2009 at 7:55 am
Wow… Michelle… Really?! I don’t recall seeing pictures of him with giant bruises and goose eggs all over his face… I am glad that they are having them stay away from one another for 5 years. I think once a relationship turns violent, it is hard to recover. This gives BOTH parties a chance to go forward and have a mature, healthy, NON VIOLENT relationship. Good job goes to the judge of this case!
August 26th, 2009 at 8:18 am
I’m just shocked she felt the restraining order was too much. He beat and put his hands around your neck and you don’t want him kept away from you? Idiot.
Kudos to the judge for not letting him off easy because he is a “celebrity”.
August 26th, 2009 at 8:21 am
i agree michelle – rhianna also needs to take some responsibility for her actions.
August 26th, 2009 at 8:23 am
beat her down is sickening. I really hope they put him in jail. Disgusting disgrace to society. Anybody who buys his album/single supports a woman-beater
August 26th, 2009 at 8:25 am
if you are the one to start the physical violence during a fight, whether a slap or punch, you are responsible for the consequence if you get slap or slammed into a wall during that argument, even if you are femaie. just because you’re female doesn’t mean you can slap or hit a guy and expect him to just take it.
that doesn’t mean rihanna deserved the beating she got from him in the car. she should have learned from the first incident that the relationship was abusive and not healthy.
August 26th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Rihanna might be the stupidest girl alive. She WANTS to see this wifebeater? I say go ahead and let her. But don’t cry to anyone if you get your ass beat again Rihanna. Ughhh these 2 are just worthless.
August 26th, 2009 at 8:37 am
He should have recieved more. I am sorry, a slap from a woman is not the same as kicking the living shit out of someone!! He truly is a pig!!!
August 26th, 2009 at 8:44 am
@Pixie – did you really just say that? You sound like a wife beater – “she should have learned from the first incident”… We don’t know why she slapped him but he should have been a MAN and kept his hands to himself because that is what a real MAN does. You make me a little sick.
August 26th, 2009 at 8:55 am
So what you are saying Michelle, Pixie and Liza is that if I slap someone, I deserve to get choked, bitten, someone should try and throw me out of a moving vehicle, my head should be slammed into a window and I should get punched repeatedly? Seriously? That is what you people are saying?
I suppose you were one of the twits screaming outside the courthouse about how much you love Chris Brown.
People suck. What he did was despicable and as one of the only sane people on this site this morning – Bleeding Ears – said – he should have been a man and walked the f*ck away.
I cannot believe that WOMEN are saying that she deserved this? WTF? I am shaking I am so angry right now. There are no words or explanation for what he did.
Yes he can grow and learn from this. Yes I hope he never does it again. But being sorry does not involve jetskiing in Miami 3 weeks after beating the crap out of your girlfriend.
In time, he may earn forgiveness. But he has done NOTHING to earn it yet. NOTHING.
August 26th, 2009 at 8:57 am
yes she should have learn from him slamming her against the wall that he is abusive, and bashing in the car windows that her relationship with him is unhealthy and she should have left. it shouldn’t have taken her almost being choked and beaten to death to make her leave him. i’m sorry but physical abuse is physical abuse whether it comes from a woman or a man. so had rihanna beat him it’s ok cause she’s a woman?
August 26th, 2009 at 9:01 am
i agree with michelle and especially pixie’s first comment
August 26th, 2009 at 9:03 am
@ Pixie et al: A slap is NOT beating. And if you have ever known a person in a physically abusive relationship, they are usually also EMOTIONALLY abused, so it’s not so easy to just walk away. Victims generally are not in a rational state of mind. They don’t think they can walk away. Sounds like all you people defending Chris are pretty naive. Good luck with that.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:04 am
oops didn’t read suzanne’s comment. no one is saying she DESERVED what happened. some people just need to open their eyes to the fact that SHE also slapped him first. it wasn’t an UNPROVOKED incident.
she is the victim yes but wouldn’t YOU react if someone had slapped you? of course the best way to react is calmly and, like someone said, “be a man and walk away”.
gah, people are just so highly-strung
August 26th, 2009 at 9:06 am
I have no comprehension of what I am reading. It is not worth trying to explain how wrong I think you are on this. I guess you are entitled to your own opinions? As deluded and ridiculous I think they are. They are yours.
I just hope you never find yourself in a relationship with someone who is abusive. Cause apparently you will deserve anything you get……even if he is physically stronger than you. Hit his car (which is all she did when he beat the cr*p out of her in Feb) and you are asking for a beat down.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:06 am
I kind of agree with Pixie. She slapped him and then he shoved her into a wall. He shouldn’t have shoved her into a wall and should’ve taken the high road. But at the same time Rihanna was the instigator, he only did what she did to him.
And I’m just talking about the first incident, not the one in the car.
She should have been wiser, if you slap your boyfriend, that’s wrong. If he responds by shoving you into a wall, that’s wrong.
I think she should take responsibility for her actions, if you become so infuriated with someone that you feel the need to slap them, it’s not right.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Why is the conversation one sided? If BOTH parties had kept their hands to themselves, this would be a non-issue. Real women dont hit their men. Period. Real men dont hit their women. Period. There is no appropriate provocation for either of them touching the other in anger. If either party had recognize the earlier instances as abuse, one of them would have ended the relationship prior to the February incident.
That being said, I am glad to see Chris taking responsibility for his role. Even if he was hit first, it doesnt excuse his reaction. I appreciate him not wasting tax dollars & pleading guilty. I also dont want to see him rot in jail, what good does that bring? In jail he simply learns more violence. Generally speaking, jail is not designed for the first time offender (horrific crimes example: murder, child molestation aside). That why other punishments exist. With hard labor his image & career will suffer even more, he can be forced to pay for the court costs of his supervision & my tax dollars dont have to support him in jail. And the victim was not pushing for jail time either. This seems like the best solution.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:23 am
I feel sick. I can’t believe there is even a discussion about this. I’m done with you people and this site.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Good luck with these imbeciles and fuck-tards Trent.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Don’t blame Trent BE! Not his fault people are the way they are……..Chris Brown is young and rich in America. Apparently that is all you need to get away with beating the crap out of your girlfriend……. maybe if he had killed her then people would stop defending him and justifying his actions? Oh wait, but cause she slapped him she deserved it?
So angry, must walk away……..
August 26th, 2009 at 9:33 am
saying a women doesn’t have the right to go around slapping anyone she’s having an argument with, doesn’t mean i’m defending chris brown. is he disgusting and a horrible human being for beating her, YES he is. i never said rihanna deserved to get choked and beaten. all i said was just as he had no right to lay a hand on her, she has no right to lay a hand on him.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:38 am
But by even saying that you are justifying his actions. Don’t you see that? I agree, she shouldn’t have been physical with him either. Violence in any form = complete badness. But this is two completely separate incidents. And when he beat the crap out of her in February the only “provocation” was her hitting his f*cking car.
I am not trying to be negative toward anyone posting comments, cause you are entitled to you opinions. I just can’t comprehend how anyone could say that she in any way remotely deserved what he did to her. And by bringing up a past incident where she slapped him (and then he shoved her into a wall), that is how it comes across to me.
August 26th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Is anyone going to question Rihannas actions??
She slapped him…violence is voilence, whether its from a man OR a woman!
On the last incident, she began beating her fists against his car….that shows she has some violent issues she needs to work on also!!!!
August 26th, 2009 at 10:25 am
I think that it is a true statement that Rhianna shouldn’t act out in violence but I don’t think that automatically makes her open to whatever concequences just because she initated it in the past.
Here’s the deal, Rhinna would not be able to do the harm to Chris that he can do to her. She can’t overpower him so the bigger person needs to show more restraint because of the damage he can do verses what she can do. It doesn’t give her the right to act out either but he could walk away and cut ties with her also. A normal person probably would and say I’m not going to put myself in that postition because when he lets loose ,its waaaaay more damaging then when she does. He needed to not let himself get in that position and he did.
She probably needs help too. It doesn’t surprise me that she wants to be with him regarless. I be she even regets that it’s gone this far and wishes no one would have ever found out. It’s a sad thing. People will put up with a lot for what the precieve as love.
August 26th, 2009 at 10:41 am
I don’t believe any of it! This is what really happened: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIhshI34RSc – LOL!
August 26th, 2009 at 10:58 am
wow…just by saying i think she needed to take some responsibility for her actions…someone mistaking thought i said she deserved to be hit. NO! NOT AT ALL! all that means is she needs to stand up and take some (not all…just some) responsibility for allowing a violent relationship continue. meaning she also needs some type of counseling. it is never ok for anyone to hit someone…no matter what the situation. And because i believe both parties a somewhat responsible dosen’t mean i think its ok for men to hit women or women to hit men.
August 26th, 2009 at 11:31 am
@ suzanne: i agree they are two separate incidents. i didn’t mean to imply that he had the right to beat (during the feb car incident) her cause she has slapped him in an earlier incident. i think she needs to also look at herself and question why she feels the urge to slap anyone during an argument and to question why she stayed in an abusive relationship. only by taking responsibility and saying ok something is wrong with me that i allow a guy to beat me can she break the cycle of abuse.
August 26th, 2009 at 11:46 am
It seems to me that there is more to this story than what originally met the eye. I feel that even though Chris Brown did in fact hit her and cause her bodily damage, Rihanna has been playing the part of the innocent victim when she in fact, has also hit him. Why is it that it’s not okay for a man to hit a woman but a woman can hit a man without any reprocussions? Obviously there was a lot more going on with the couple than anyone thought. While it’s still a horrible thing what transpired the night in the car, obviously Chris Brown has also been a victim of abuse from Rihanna and I feel like he isn’t getting any support for that.She isn’t getting any heat for it either. I’m really over her, she walks around like she’s queen of the Earth and really she’s got her own issues.
August 26th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Suzanne said: ” I just can’t comprehend how anyone could say that she in any way remotely deserved what he did to her. And by bringing up a past incident where she slapped him (and then he shoved her into a wall), that is how it comes across to me.”
I completely agree.
August 26th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Liza, how do you know Rhianna isn’t in some type of counseling? Pixie, how do you know she isn’t in therapy addressing those very issues? Just because she doesn’t make her recovery a public spectacle doesn’t mean that she isn’t getting help or taking responsibility.
August 26th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
lord help both of ‘em. if the situation were reversed and she had choked and bit and beaten *him* to a bloody pulp, i hope we’d throw the book at rihanna too.
knowing *she hit him in the past* does indeed greatly decrease my respect for her. but i don’t blame her for his actions. or him, for her actions!
not interested in either of these losers anymore.
August 26th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Don’t judge Rhianna for her actions during this situation. Unless you have ever been in an abusive relationship you have no idea what she has been through and NONE of what happened is her fault. Not many guys start out pushing and shoving a woman around, it happens gradually and by the time you’ve gotten to that place it’s likely she didn’t realize how bad it really was. Have some compassion.
August 26th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
100% bikerbabe. Michelle: She has not made one single comment on anything. How the hell is she “playing the victim”. She is the f*cking victim. He pled guilty and “faux-pologised” on the interweb.
Chris Brown doesn’t deserve any f*cking support. He is a guy using his past to excuse what he did. I am sick of people making excuses for him.
Abusive relationships are something that I hope none of you ever have to go through. Abusers make you feel like nothing, and that all you can get and deserve is them. That you are not worthy of anything better and that you deserve everything they heap on you.
People in these relationships – famous or not – man or woman – should never be expected to “take responsibility” for remaining in that relationship and somehow “take responsibility” for what happens to them. That is exactly the same as saying that someone who walks home alone after dark should “take responsibility” for being assaulted in an alley.
Compassion is right. Try being a f*cking human being.
August 26th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Sounds like they both need lessons on not putting your hands against another person, male or female. @Suzanne- they are both victims as they both have histories of being violent in their relationships.
August 26th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
if i walk in a dark alley knowing there is someone there who will beat me, then yes i am in part responsible if i get beaten. that doesn’t excuse the person that beat me, but i didn’t have to choose to walk in that dark alley knowing the person was there. i could have left that alley and gone another way. are we saying rihanna had no choice but to stay in that abusive relationship? she had choices, she had the resources to get out but for whatever reason she chose to stay. does that excuse chris brown from his actions? absolutely not, he as well chose to beat her.
August 26th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
@krissy, you are correct in stating we don’t know whether she is or isn’t in therapy addressing these issues but i’m just saying i hope she is. if she doesn’t she is just gonna find herself in another abusive relationship.
August 26th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
A man is stronger than a woman. Yes, he was more violent, but she was also violent toward him. Rhianna isn’t completely faultless just because she didn’t damage him as much as he damaged her. Sounds like there was provocation from Rhianna each time. A slap, a violent outburst (albeit not toward him, but the car). What it doesn’t say of course is who started the verbal arguements. But whatever, he’s getting what he deserves for his attack. However I think Rhianna is at fault for some part too. You cannot always condemn the man just because he is a man, just because they are stronger, and when there is evidence to support the fact that the woman did provoke the actions. Doesn’t absolve him, but it’s a two way street.
You can get riled up about it pointlessly but if their roles were reversed so that she beat him up and he provoked her, you’d be foaming at the mouth for him provoking her. I bet. Women may be weaker but we’re never infallible when it comes to these situations. We can take partial blame too :/
August 26th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
so i read the report and what chris brown did was horrible! he sould have got jail time. for people saying he was provoked, what a joke! i have seen pics of rianna and chris brown side by side and he looks a hell of a lot bigger then her. i doubt she did any damage. i know im gonna get people saying it doesnt matter but it does…im not proud of my moment but i once slapped my boyfriend (i have never done so again and this was 3 years ago) and he just walked away, believe me he was pissed as hell fists clenched. theres not one day that goes by that i dont regret it. but he walked away when he didnt have to. he could have easily done to me what chris brown did to rihanna. so chris brown could have walked awy but he didnt.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
slapping someone is not the same as beating someone. I was in a relationship with a guy who cheated on me and verbally abused me, i caught him cheating on me, i slapped him, and he almost killed me, he grabbed and put me on the ground and punched me, and kicked me in the face. I didnt deserve that, and what he did to was physical abuse. Yea maybe rihanna did slap him but no matter what, a guy should never hit a woman, and if he was a real man he would not try to hit her, he could of easily stopped the car and get out and leave her there and let her calm down, theres no excuse for what he did. So you ppl are crazy if u think that girl deserved to beatin on. You could be the biggest bitch in the world and still dont deserve that. You would slap ur man to if he was getting text msgs or calls from an ex gf or whatever. Chris is just an idiot, and i dont think he will change, if he was that upset about what he done, and if he was depressed then he should of said an apology or given a statement as soon as this happened. Instead he ran away like an ass that he is, then to be seen a couple weeks later out havin fun, and hangin out wit other girls. He needs to just go away from the celebrity world, and go get some serious help. Even though he hasnt been in trouble with the cops before, he should of been put to prison, that might smarten him up and realize what he did wrong. And if shes stupid to take him back, well shes just dumb, but when you love someone its hard to let go and u always think maybe he can change, and despite the bad times we had, we also had good times. So shes always going to love him, im guessing her family keeps her grounded and reminds her that shes better than that, and she can do better for herself.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
@Spice – Thank you for having the most sensible post in this whole thread.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:04 am
@lily – I’m so sorry that happened to you. That’s horrible, and I started crying when I read what you wrote. I hardly ever post on this site, but read it all the time. I think everyone really needs to do some research on the cycle of violence before you judge anyone’s actions, especially Rihanna’s. That’s my only suggestion, really. Read up on something before you spew out dangerous words. Violence against women will never stop unless we fully understand why it happens.
August 27th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
@Anne – I agree with you, but I also think it’s unfair to ignore violence against men. I feel like for months we have been led to believe that Chris Brown was this monster who repeatedly abused poor Rihanna, and I’m not saying that he didn’t, because it did happen and it was horrible and appalling that he thought it was ok to do any of that to her. But she also has a history of being violent as well, which is something that most of us hadn’t heard until now. What I’m saying is why is it okay for everyone to know everything he did to her, but no one said a word about her abuse towards him. She hit him before that night, why shouldn’t she get some sort of reprimand for it? Violence towards anyone is not okay, regardless of whether it is a man or a woman. I know plenty of men who would never hit a woman simply because she is one, even if she beat the crap out of him. How is that fair? I think they both need to get some sort of help so that they can deal with their anger issues and work on becoming nonviolent.
August 27th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
I’ve read alot of ‘rumours’ about how Chris & Rihanna want to get rid of the no contact and restraining order. Mainly Rihanna’s people wanted to and just ‘move on’ but maybe thats what they always were, restraining orders.
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Perhaps, Rihanna actually does want Chris AWAY from her and this is why the result of his sentencing is to stay away and no contact.
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If there has been previous violence, i don’t understand if those rumours about Rihanna wanting to get back together and wasn’t there a time when they both went to the same hotel and to Diddy’s mansion? I mean – i just don’t get it really. Obviously its hard to understand cause your not in either of their shoes, but my guess is that Chris is a sly talker and can make Rihanna feel bad for herself or say something sweet to toy with her mind, hence why they obviously stayed together from the previous un-heard of violence incidents.
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One would think, with the incident that occured, was the worst that happen to Rihanna, she would get up & leave and not want anything to do with him. If it happening for a first time, perhaps there would be that anger but afterwards emotion and wanting to forgive and move on, get past it and possibly stay together? I dunno, i aint some violence psychiatrist.
August 27th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
theres a difference when your talking about violence against man, and violence against a woman. Its more known for a man to beat a woman then the other way around. Also the majority of men can beat up a woman, compared to a woman beating up a man, in any case violence is never the answer. Like i said before a man should never hit a woman. A man can damage a woman much worse then a woman beating a man. I think when it comes to manipulating, a man can have such an impact on a woman, and make her feel worthless and actual convince her that shes nothing if not with him.
August 28th, 2009 at 9:46 am
ohh i feel bad for the babe
i think Rihanna forgives him
and to me they make every thing a big deal
they make things biger then they are he might of had smacked her but shes fine shes a big girl i dont approve that he hits girls but he has learned his lesson the hard way
i use to be in love with chris brown and then i heard the shit that he was beating girl i did so much research on this topic and found it bull shit rihanna still went on with her life
and then chris is geting in deep shit but its fair but to me its ruining his life for a mistake that he made:(
August 28th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
he only deserves to be treated that way, i think he lost a lot of fans by doing what he did. Its not fair that he hits her, and now looking for forgiveness, i think he will make a bigger idiot when he starts talking publicly about this.
August 31st, 2009 at 11:58 am
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