Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Los Angeles, California and the U.S.

June 24, 2009

R&B Singer Pleads Guilty to Assault

LOS ANGELES – R&B singer Chris Brown pleaded guilty today to physically attacking his former girlfriend earlier this year as the two were driving to a residence in Hancock Park.

As part of a plea agreement approved by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg, Brown is expected to be placed on supervised probation for five years, attend a year-long domestic violence program and perform six months – or more than 1,400 hours – of public service labor.

The judge made it clear that she wanted Brown’s labor to be something similar to freeway cleanup or graffiti removal. She said she planned to have Brown report to court every three months for a progress report.

The 20-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to one felony count of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury. A second count of making criminal threats was expected to be dismissed when Brown is sentenced on August. 5th.

The plea was taken by Deputy District Attorney Mary Murray of the Family Violence Division, the prosecutor.

Brown was charged on March 5 after the victim, identified in the complaint only as Robyn F., was attacked “on or between” Feb. 7 and Feb. 8 of this year. The defendant has been free on $50,000 bail since his arrest on Feb. 8 by Los Angeles police.

The victim, who had been scheduled to testify today at Brown’s scheduled preliminary hearing, came into the courtroom after the defendant left to be informed of and be given a copy of a protective order issued by the judge.

In a statement after the court hearing, a spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s office noted that the plea agreement is similar to those for defendants in felony cases such as this one.

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CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER

JOSEPH SHEMARIA

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Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Los Angeles, California and the U.S.