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]