Music News: Chris Brown Sentenced to 5 Years Plus More

Chris Brown sentenced in Rihanna assault case…

A judge on Tuesday sentenced Chris Brown to five years’ probation and six months’ community labor for the beating of Rihanna and ordered to stay within 100 yards away from Rihanna unless they’re attending music industry events.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg told Brown that he could be sent to state prison if he violated any terms of his sentence. Brown will serve his sentence in his home state — Virginia — and his community labor will be overseen by the police chief in Richmond.

A probation report prepared for Tuesday’s sentencing describes two previous violent incidents. It said the first happened about three months before the February beating while the couple was traveling in Europe; Rihanna slapped Brown during an argument, and he shoved her into a wall. In the second instance, Brown allegedly broke the front and passenger side windows on a Range Rover they were driving while visiting Barbados, Rihanna‘s home country. Neither attack was reported, the probation report states.

The judge said she wanted to ensure that Brown, 20, performs physical labor instead of community service, such as mentoring young people. He will also undergo a year of domestic violence counseling. Rihanna did not attend Tuesday’s sentencing.

At one point, Brown, who was accompanied by his mother, agreed to the terms of the sentence before Schnegg had finished going through them all.

The hearing had been planned for Thursday afternoon, but Brown‘s lawyer,
Mark Geragos, asked to move up the singer’s sentencing to Tuesday. A previous attempt to sentence Brown was postponed when Schnegg said she hadn’t received adequate assurances that Brown would perform physical labor if allowed to serve probation in Virginia.

The judge said she was satisfied with a letter presented by Geragos that

Richmond Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood will directly oversee Brown‘s labor program. After Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault in June, Schnegg ordered the pair to stay away from each other and to not contact one another. Her order Tuesday essentially extended that until Brown completes his sentence.

Donald Etra, Rihanna‘s attorney, has said he didn’t think the strict rules were necessary, but that he and Rihanna favored a less-stringent ruling that simply ordered Brown not to annoy, harass or molest the 21-year-old pop singer. He said after Tuesday’s hearing that Rihanna did not object to the stay-away order, which allows the former couple to be within 10 yards of each other if they are attending music industry events.

Schnegg said she was aware of reports that Brown had been spotted on several occasions in the same places as Rihanna.

“I am not amused with the chatter that has been on the airwaves and any violation of your probation in this case comes with the potential for state prison,” Schnegg told Brown.

A felony charge of making criminal threats was dropped during Tuesday’s sentencing.

“We feel that the sentence for Mr. Brown is an equitable one,” said Sandi Gibbons, a district attorney’s spokeswoman. “He has his future in his hands. He has control of his fate.”

Gibbons said Brown‘s charge could eventually be reduced to a misdemeanor if he completes his sentence.

Spotted….

After the sentencing Chris Brown was spotted that night clubbing at a popular L.A. lounge named, Guys & Dolls with friends and bodyguards. Sources say Brown stood up on a booth and got the crowd excited as he danced along to Michael Jackson’s ‘Dirty Diana’.

“He didn’t seem to care at all that everyone was watching him,” says the source. “He was in a totally good mood, just hanging out with his buddies. Then all of a sudden he decided to put on a little show. Everyone went wild.”

Let it be told, he was not alone out and about, sources say that,  Rihanna was also out doing some clubbing of her own on Tuesday night after Chris Brown‘s hearing.

Rihanna and her gal pals flocked to downtown club Greenhouse, where they met Serena Williams, Queen Latifah and Paula Patton.

“Rihanna was dancing all night,” says a spy. “Chris looked like the furthest thing from her mind.”

“Your thoughts?”

Wire Talk: Rihanna and Chris Brown Secretly Together?

Rihanna and Chris Brown have fuelled reunion rumours after dining across the street from each other….

The couple – who were banned from meeting by a court order after Chris pleaded guilty to assaulting her last month – ate on opposite sides of New York’s famous Broadway, in the city’s theatre district, on Tuesday (28.07.09).

Gossip website Radar reports: “Rihanna was seen at the Cipriani Downtown Restaurant while Chris looked glum while waiting in his car after dinner, across the street at Via Dei Mille Restaurant.”

Chris reached a plea bargain for attacking the Barbados-born beauty before his case went to trial.

Under the terms of the agreement, Chris is the subject of a restraining order which sees him banned from coming within 50 yards of the ‘Umbrella’ singer.

If he is found to have violated the terms, he might lose the plea bargain – which saw him receive five years probation and 180 days of community labour rather than any jail time – and be charged with a misdemeanour.

It has been reported that Chris will only be found to have breached the order if Rihanna complains to police.

Earlier this week, it was claimed Rihanna and Chris had stayed at Manhattan’s Trump International Hotel and Tower.

A source said at the time: “The two spent the weekend at the same luxury Midtown hotel under a cloak of secrecy.

“They spent the next two days coming and going in separate chauffeured vehicles. The two appear to have taken great measures to avoid public exposure.”

Source: My Park Mag.

“Your thoughts?”

Related Articles

• Daily Dish: Rihanna Has Moments of Missing Chris Brown (bettyconfidential.com)

Just In: Chris Brown and Rihanna in Court

Chris Brown pleads guilty to felony assault…

According to Yahoo! news, Chris Brown pleaded guilty Monday to assaulting Rihanna and the two were ordered to stay away from each other, in a deal that keeps the singer out of prison but requires him to clean up graffiti or roadside trash.Brown’s plea to a felony charge will subject him to substantial scrutiny by probation officials, and the judge’s order puts the kibosh on any short-term prospects for reconciliation with his pop diva girlfriend as well.

The guilty plea came before a preliminary hearing was scheduled to start. The hearing had been billed for weeks as a public face-off between the pair, with Rihanna set to testify against her one-time boyfriend.

Instead, Brown averted the potentially damaging meeting by entering a plea that will subject him to probation for the next five years as well as force him to perform six months of community service.

Mark Geragos, Brown‘s lawyer, said the plea represented the singer taking responsibility for his actions — which included beating, choking and biting Rihanna during a fight early Feb. 8, according to police.

After Brown left the courtroom, Rihanna entered and was addressed by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg, who explained to the Barbados-born singer that she had issued a stay-away order.

Rihanna had not been seeking such an order, but the judge imposed one anyway. The order requires that Brown and Rihanna stay at least 50 yards from each, except at industry events when the distance is reduced to 10 yards.

The judge also told Rihanna it’s not a one-way order — and that she, too, shouldn’t get any closer to Brown than the order allows.

“This is a kid who’s never been in trouble before,” Geragos said after the hearing. “He embraces this as chance to get the message out that domestic violence will not be tolerated. He wants to get his life back on track.”

Brown will be formally sentenced on Aug. 5.

Schnegg accepted Brown‘s plea, but expressed some concerns because Brown is not a California resident. She said Brown likely will be allowed to do his service in his home state of Virginia, but she didn’t want him to spend his time at churches or community centers.

Instead, Schnegg ordered Brown to get his hands dirty by doing work equivalent to what he would do in California — clean up grafitti or roadside trash.

She also said he’ll have to return to California every three months and attend domestic violence counseling.

Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office, said the terms were in line with what others receive when they are charged with similar crimes and have no prior criminal history.

Brown spoke softly throughout the hearing as he waived his rights and told the judge he understood the gravity of his plea.

“I think it’s commendable you took responsibility for your conduct,” Schnegg told Brown.

She said she hoped “the terms and conditions of your probation will have some meaning.”

Rihanna spoke briefly, too, telling Schnegg she understood the terms of the stay-away order and that after Brown‘s sentencing she might ask for its terms to be loosened.

Rihanna, 21, recorded one of 2007’s most popular songs with “Umbrella” and has numerous other hits. Her looks have made her a cover girl for magazines, as well as a pitchwoman for Cover Girl cosmetics.

The deal provides an end to a case that sparked intense media interest and severe backlash against Brown. Sponsors and radio stations dropped him, and the singer had to cancel several high-profile appearances, including a performance at the Grammys.

The singer once known for his squeaky-clean image now has a substantial blemish on his record. Brown, 20, rose to fame after the 2005 hit “Run It!” He was nominated for a Grammy for “No Air” with Jordin Sparks and named Billboard‘s top artist in 2008.

Intense media coverage led to Rihanna being identified as Brown‘s victim mere hours after the attack. Within weeks, a photo of the singer and model’s bruised and battered face was posted on celebrity gossip site TMZ.

The posting sparked an investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department into whether one of its own officers leaked the photo to the Web site. Brown‘s attorney unsuccessfully argued the leak hurt Brown and that he should be granted access to LAPD’s investigative files.

Brown recently proclaimed in a video posted to YouTube that he was “not a monster.”

Even after Monday’s hearing, lawyers for Brown and Rihanna refused to discuss the status of the pair’s relationship.

Brown was arrested hours after police say he hit and threatened Rihanna after leaving a pre-Grammy party in Los Angeles. He was later charged with felony assault likely to produce great bodily harm and making criminal threats.

If convicted, the singer faced sentences ranging up to nearly five years in prison.

After an inital retreat from the public eye, both musicians have gradually appeared in public more frequently. Lately they have been photographed separately, including at a National Basketball Association finals game between the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.

But neither has been able to shake the stigma of the court case and return to their usual jobs — making music.

The logistics of Brown‘s sentence may make it difficult to get back to his job.

“It amounts to a very sweaty house arrest,” said Loyola University Law School Professor Stan Goldman, who was in the courtroom. “You have to have the discipline to show up several times a week. How many times will this interfere with a record date or an appearance?”

Source: Yahoo! News

Photos below from their appearance in court…

Photo credits: MTV via Getty Images

“Your thoughts?”

Spotted: Rihanna & Chris Brown Reunion?

Did Chris Brown and Rihanna Reunite at the NBA Finals?

An unexpected reunion between Chris Brown and Rihanna nearly took place at Thursday’s NBA finals game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic.

During the first half of the game, sources at Orlando’s Amway Arena revealed that Rihanna and Brown sat in adjacent courtside sections, not far apart.

Ironically, the duo has been seen (separately) at previous finals games in Los Angeles and Orlando over the past few weeks.

Reports speculating that the duo would arrive together at the game late Thursday proved to be false. According to parties in attendance, the duo remained separate and during breaks went to separate lounges.

Both Brown and Rihanna are due to appear at a schedule preliminary hearing in Los Angeles this month. The hearing, confirmed this week, is set for June 22 and is expected to include testimony from Rihanna in relation to the duo’s altercation in February.

As an aside, sources claim Rihanna was rooting for the Lakers.

(From left to right: Chris Brown, Rihanna)

(Photos: Getty Images)

Source: singersroom

Music In Ya Ear!: Chris Brown – Apology

Video of the Day!: Chris Brown “Apology”

This song was recently leaked online and it sounds like he was apologizing to Rihanna, rumor has it it was written for her. It talks about what went down between them a few months back.

In the chorus, it’s like Chris is singing about the “girl” who texted him in the car, “She didn’t mean anything to me (nothing). She wasnt the one I see in my dreams (oh noo). Girl you know it aint true. If you believe (yeeah). Please except my apology (please except my apology). I didnt mean to hurt you girl.”

Just listen to it, it really sounds like an apology! The only bad thing about it, it’s just that it sounds like an old song, he sounds really young. The voice is very youthful.

Below are the lyrics to the song as well.

LYRICS
You don’t even call anymore
Its so different from the way it was before
Everyday I hear your pretty voice
I have no choice but to be all alone without you
There’s so many mistakes we make in love
Cause still I’m thinking this is something we can solve
I take all the blame for breaking your heart
But you cant let it tear us apart
Because

She didn’t mean anything to me (nothing)
She wasn’t the one I see in my dreams (oh noo)
Girl you know it ain’t true
If you believe (yeeah)
Please except my apology (please except my apology)
I didn’t mean to hurt you girl

I didn’t see myself settle down
But I knew from the first time you came around
From the moment I looked into your eyes
I never want to see you cry over me
But I knew if we got serious in love
We would never ever wanna break it up
I wasn’t ready for you until this day
Could you believe when I say that

x3
She didn’t mean anything to me (no she didn”t)
She wasnt the one I see in my dreams (no she was not)
Girl you know it ain’t true (yeeah)
If you believe
Please except my apology (baby I didn’t mean)
I didn’t mean to hurt you girl

Source: YouTube

“I think the song is a great comeback song.”

Just In: Rihanna Camp Speaks Out Again Plus Paul Walker Speaks Out About Chris Brown!

Rihanna’s People Speak Out About Chris Brown Again!!

A source “close” to Rihanna tells X17Online exclusively:

”Ri is doing great. She is trying to put Chris on the back burner. They still have joint business assets so they are still keeping in touch indirectly.”

”Rihanna is focusing on her new album. She has a lot of creative control so she is doing it her way. This is the first time she has been able to do that.”

Chris, howewer, is a mess. He lost a lot of weight, about 15 lbs. I do know that Chris is also in a depression and is drinking a lot. He almost got his butt kicked in VA about a week ago.”

Plus…

PAUL WALKER CALLS CHRIS BROWN ‘A GOOD KID’

Paul Walker is excited for the release of his upcoming action flick, “Takers,” even though two of the movies actors, T.I. and Chris Brown, are facing real-life action of their own. T.I. is set to serve a yearlong prison sentence, and Brown faces arraignment on charges of assault and criminal threats after his alleged altercation with Rihanna in February. Walker, who is currently promoting “Fast & Furious” (out Friday), doesn’t think his 19-year-old co-star’s legal troubles will have any effect on the film. “I hope everything gets worked out, ’cause I really like him,” he told MTV News about Brown. “I feel for him, ’cause I know it’s hard, but he’s going to be all right.” Walker got to work closely with Brown while filming “Takers” last year. “He’s just a kid,” Walker said. “He’s just cool. He’s fun. … He’s a 19-year-old kid, just high on life. Just having a good time. Always dancing and singing, never stops, always got a smile on his face. Really good energy, good kid to be around.”

In “Takers,” which also stars Michael Ealy, Hayden Christensen and Idris Elba, Walker plays one of the bad guys the audience will root for. “I play this guy John Rodway,” he explained. “It’s a big heist movie. It’s all about the robbery, and these guys coming up, and they’re like the bad-guy crew that you can’t help but pull for, ’cause they’re all good guys. They’re really tight. It’s ‘Heat’ meets ‘Point Break.’ It’s got that feel to it.” With the Brown chatter out of the way and the plot synopsis done, Walker was ready to share his one criticism of the film. It seems at the time of the interview Walker didn’t realize that the film, which had the original title of “Bone Deep,” had been changed to “Takers,” a detail we are sure will make him quite happy. “I’ll tell you one thing: The title’s gotta change. It’s gotta,” he joked about the original title. “We can talk about this all we want, but it’s gonna be under a completely different title when it comes out. I’m sorry, that is not sticking.”

Source: Ultimate-Rihanna/chris-brown.us

“At least someone had something nice to say about him. What are your thoughts?”

Just In: Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty – Preliminary Hearing Set for April 29th

Latest Updates on the Case…

Chris Brown had his day in court to face two felony charges of making criminal threats and assault. The 19-year-old singer pleaded not guilty in a Los Angeles courtroom Monday stemming from the alleged Feb. 8 beating of his girlfriend, pop diva Rihanna. The singer dressed in a dark suit stated “Not guilty your honor,” when asked how he would plea. His mother sat in the front row of the courtroom, her eyes red from tears.

Rihanna did not appear in court, but her lawyer Donald Etra was present. “What happened today was that Chris Brown entered a not guilty plea to both of the felony counts against him,” Etra said to reporters after the hearing. “Rihanna’s position in this case remains the same, mainly she will do everything that the law requires her to do,” he said when asked what role the 21-year-old singer will play in the case.

Etra went on to say that both parties are attempting to resolve the case “expeditiously and fairly” but fended off personal questions regarding his client. “It’s not my role to discuss her personal relationship,” he said.

Brown’s attorney Geragos hopes to reach a plea deal will the prosecution that will not allow Brown to serve jail time. The young star faces up to four years in prison if convicted on both charges.

Brown first turned himself in to authorities on February 8, hours after the alleged altercation. He was later released on $50,000 bail and both he and Rihanna missed scheduled appearances at this year’s Grammy awards. Although the couple has since reconciled, in the past few weeks Brown has been out of the spotlight emerging last month to at a girl’s college basketball game during their schools violence against women awareness campaign. Rihanna is back in her native Barbados with friends and family.

The singer is due back in court April 29.

If Brown, 19, is convicted, the sentence could range from probation to four years and eight months in prison, the office said.

The attack is said to have happened during an argument that began when Rihanna, who had been dating Brown, found a text message from another woman on his cell phone, according to a sworn police statement.

When Brown appeared for his first hearing a month ago, Rihanna’s lawyer asked the judge not to prohibit Brown from having contact with her while he faces felony charges of assaulting her.

Check out the video below…

Source: Via Email/YouTube

Dear Diary: My thoughts on the Chris Brown and Rihanna Case

I came across an article I read on E! Online yesterday about Chris Brown appearing in court later that afternoon. Now let me just tell you there were a bunch of comments made on that issue. There were 3 people who commented that made me realize what everyone is doing to harm this case. I feel people need to really look at it in different perspectives. The media tend to forget that celebrities are human beings. They make mistakes and those mistakes are things that they have to live with on a daily basis, especially being in the spotlight 24/7. One of the people who commented made a very important point.

She stated as follows…

mika Mon, Apr 6, 2009, 7:56 AM

WHY IS IT OKAY FOR RHIANNA TO BE DRINKING AN PARTYING IN BARBADOS GOING OUT EVERYNIGHT AT THE CLUBS AN DINNERS BUT CHRIS BROWN CANT GO NO WHERE DOES HE HAVE TO HIDE UNDER A ROCK THE KIDS 19 U DONT THINK HE KNOWS WHAT HE DID WAS WRONG WHAT ABOUT RHIANNA SLAPPING HIM IN HIS FACE N HE TOLD HER TO CHILL OUT WHAT HE DID WAS WRONG BUT WHY WE AS WOMAN THINK WE CAN HIT A MAN BUT HE CANT HIT US BACK THE DOUBLE STANDARD IS RIDICUOUS IF U CAN SWING YOUR HAND THEN LOOK FOR A SWING IN RETURN MY HUSBAND NEVER HIT ME NOR I NEVER HIT HIM BECAUSE I HAVE NO RIGHT TO DO SO NIETHER DOES HIM GIVE THIS STORY A REST IT IS OVERRATED

Another person made this comment…

Disgusted Mon, Apr 6, 2009, 8:19 AM

Yeah, so the little white lady who reports these stories is infatuated with the whole ordeal. Chris Brown should not be punished for defending himself. Rihanna shouldn’t be drinking her **** life away everywhere. She seems to have some sort of problem and needs an intervention! I think he has suffered enough and has been de-famed enough. It’s time to move one people.

Another said this…

Tracie Mon, Apr 6, 2009, 10:08 AM

My prayers are with Chris and Rihanna. It will be so nice when this is behind them. They have both suffered greatly during these past months mostly because of the media. I wish them both the best. I look forward to seeing them back doing what they do best. Good luck today Chris. Rihanna stay strong.

This is my opionion on what they all said...

I agree with Mika and Disgusted….It’s so true, what you both are saying. I am a fan of the both of them, but I just feel like Rihanna has thrown Chris Brown under the bus lately. She has been seen out & about in LA, Hawaii, NYC, and now Barbados partying her ass of. Her driver has also been seen slamming into cars when they leave the clubs. Chris was recently seen at a basketball game, raising awareness for the “White Ribbon Campaign” which is dedicated to Anti-Violence against women. If they so-called say that Rihanna and Chris were seeking help together where was she supporting him for his good deeds. Oh yeah partying it up at clubs. I think it’s fucked up what she’s doing. He’s like a turtle hiding in his shell. And she’s the new party animal. Paris Hilton look-out Rihanna‘s coming out to party harder.

Now don’t get me wrong I am a fan of the both of them. I agree with Tracie when she states about seeing this all go away and them coming back and creating great music. I would love to see what happens next, but I feel that they should give him a chance and let him say his side of the story. We already heard what Rihanna‘s family have been saying to the media. I feel like it’s been too much already.

The reason I say Rihanna‘s family is because, I feel like Rihanna‘s dad needs to give the media a break and stop looking for something new to say every time he is questioned for details. He has already spoken to the media about yesterday’s hearing.

Here’s what he had to say….

Rihanna’s dad tells US Weekly, “So what happened? Somebody else did this to Rihanna then. I just would like to see justice go in the right direction.”

Fenty explains, “I don’t want his career to be damaged — it’s damaged already. I think he’s a talented guy, but everybody should have to pay. When you do the crime, you do the time. I don’t want to see him locked up for a long time — I just want him to acknowledge and get some help.”

Unsatisfied, Ronald continues, “Who did it — that’s the question now. If he’s not guilty, who did it? He should say ‘guilty’ and let the court be leaning into him and try himself to the mercy of the court, see if he gets a fine…”

“Now he’s going to go beyond that and it could go longer, it can be even worse. It can be worse for him in the long run.”

I know he feels for his daughter and it’s understandable, but this is Rihanna and Chris Brown’s issue. You don’t see Chris Brown‘s mom talking to the media every 5 minutes about how Chris or even she feels. People need to back-up and give them some space to breathe and re-think everything over. Put yourself in their shoes. Trust me it would not be pretty, to be put into a position where everything you do, whether it’s good or bad, can be twisted into something that is not. And believe it if you smack a guy in their face they will smack you back, that’s like messing with their ego and a matter of their respect as a man. No one should lose that respect and trust in a person, it’s really hard to bounce back from that. That kind of draws the beginning of a line as to where it says it’s okay to do it every time you argue or disagree on something. Well it’s not okay! You should always have that level of respect on each other.

Check out the photos below…

Chris Brown in court on Monday Afternoon.

Rihanna partying in Barbados.

Chris Brown playing Ball at Mary Washington University for the “White Ribbon Campaign” which is dedicated for Anti-Violence Against Women

Rihanna at Club Delux, L.A

Well last but not least. I want to wish them both well and we hope this issue can go away soon. Good luck and we love you both.

Kiss Kiss,
jnelj4u

Breaking News: Chris Brown Heads Back To Court Today!

Latest Updates on the Case

Today is the day for Chris final arraignment in court.

Chris Brown is going to plead not guilty to two felony charges today, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.

Chris is scheduled for arraignment in connection with the alleged beating of his girlfriend Rihanna and sources close to the case say that
while he wants to resolve the situation he will plead not guilty.

Brown is due in court on April 6 for an arraignment hearing regarding his two felony accounts- assault and making criminal threats- stemming from his alleged beating of Rihanna.

Brown’s attorney Mark Geragos, did not return calls for comment.

The couple seemed to reconcile in late February, reuniting on a trip to
Miami. In recent weeks however, the two have been taking a break from one another and have retreated to their separate corners: Brown to his home state of Virginia and Rihanna to her native country Barbados. There has been speculation about Rihanna’s willingness to testify against Brown.

“She has no interest in testifying,” a source tells.

If you want to know how it will end up in court today, you can watch it at 3 p.m. PT for all the courtroom action, when E! Online will have a live feed of Chris Brown’s arraignment.

“I wish him luck.”

Celebrity News: Chris Brown Shoots Hoops for Anti-Violence Campaign

Singer Chris Brown popped up Tuesday at a women’s basketball game in his home state of Virginia. The 19-year-old has been out of the spotlight following his alleged assault and against girlfriend Rihanna. Although one student described the star’s appearance as “bizarre,” Brown looked to be in good spirits posing for several photos with the basketball team.

According to TMZ, Brown visited the University of Mary Washington during the college’s “White Ribbon Campaign” which is dedicated to raising awareness about violence against women. Along with taking pictures Brown also shot a few baskets, which were captured on film by two students.

The R&B singer is currently free on $50,000 bail and faces two felony counts, which include assault and making criminal threats. Brown appeared in court last month and was granted a new arraignment date. While he has been in Virginia, Rihanna has been in Los Angeles. Several photos of the 21-year-old pop star partying and shopping for a new home have recently hit the news circuit.

Brown is due back in court April 6. Despite reports to the contrary Rihanna is cooperating with the Los Angeles District Attorney, and will take the stand against Brown if necessary.

Source: theboombox.com

“I’m glad he’s making efforts on making appearances for a good cause. Good for you Chris.”