Chris Brown rejects plea deal
Singer Chris Brown has managed to intrigue — and infuriate — the public since he first burst onto the scene in 2005. Here’s a look at his life and career.
Brown poses with his award for Best New Artist at the Soul Train Music Awards in March 2006. That year, Brown also won male artist of the year, new artist of the year and artist of the year at the Billboard Music Awards.
Brown, left, appeared with “Scandal” star Columbus Short in the 2007 film “Stomp the Yard.”
Brown started dating fellow singer Rihanna in 2008, and the pair appeared to be the perfect match. Here, they dance the night away in December of that year. A few months later, Brown was charged with assaulting her on the eve of the Grammy Awards.
In April 2009, Brown pleads not guilty to felony charges of assault and making threats related to the Rihanna incident.
Rihanna and attorney Donald Etra appear at a preliminary hearing in June 2009. The hearing was to determine if Brown would stand trial for allegedly attacking Rihanna during an argument in a rented sports car.
As part of a plea deal in June 2009, Brown pleads guilty to one felony count of assault with the intent of doing great bodily injury. Under terms of the agreement, Brown is given five years of probation and ordered to serve 180 days in jail or the equivalent in labor-oriented community service.
Brown and his mother appear on CNN’s “Larry King Live” on September 2, 2009. It was his first television interview since his arrest. “I’ve said countless times how sorry I am to Rihanna, and I just accepted full responsibility,” Brown said. “But it’s just one of those things I wish I could have relived and just handled totally different.”
In June 2010, Brown broke down in tears during his performance of “Man in the Mirror” at the BET Awards in Los Angeles.
“Takers,” an action drama co-starring Brown, premiered in August 2010.
In 2011, Brown’s album “F.A.M.E.” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Here, he performs that summer on NBC’s “Today” show.
In February 2012, Brown’s career appeared to be on an upswing following his legal woes. “F.A.M.E.” won a Grammy for Best R&B Album.
In March 2011, Brown reportedly stormed off the set of ABC’s “Good Morning America” after he was interviewed by Robin Roberts. He later apologized.
Brown performs during the Billboard Music Awards in May 2012.
Brown and rapper Drake, seen here in 2010, reportedly got into an altercation at the New York City club W.i.P. in June 2012. Brown was left with a cut on his chin.
Brown appears in court for a probation progress report hearing in September 2012. A judge ordered a probation violation hearing after Brown tested positive for marijuana use.
Brown appears in court for a probation progress report hearing in February 2013. In a court filing, prosecutors accused Brown of not completing the 180 days of community labor as stipulated from his 2009 felony assault case.
During a court appearance in July, a judge revoked Brown’s probation. The revocation was triggered after Brown allegedly sped away from the scene of a minor traffic crash in May, failing to hand over his driver’s license and insurance information to another driver.
Brown’s attorney, Mark Geragos, speaks to the press after a judge dropped a hit-and-run charge against Brown in August. The singer reached a “civil compromise” with his accuser.
A judge also reinstated Brown’s probation in August, signing off on 1,000 hours of “community labor” such as graffiti or beach cleanup. Two months later, Brown and a bodyguard were arrested and charged with felony assault after allegedly attacking a man with their fists outside the W Hotel in downtown Washington.
Brown, center, departs the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse in Washington on October 28. The assault charge against the singer was reduced to a misdemeanor and he was released without bail.
Brown appears in a Los Angeles court for a probation violation hearing on Monday, December 16. A judge revoked his probation because of his October arrest in Washington, but the singer’s not going to jail because he’s already in a court-ordered residential rehab program. Brown will return for a hearing in February that will decide if he’ll serve jail time after his three months in rehab.
- Chris Brown appeared in court on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
- The singer and his bodyguard are facing misdemeanor assault charges
- Lawyers for Brown and Hollosy rejected the offered plea deal
- Both sides agreed to meet again on February 20
Washington (CNN) — Singer Chris Brown appeared before a Washington, D.C. judge Wednesday along with his bodyguard Christopher Hollosy, facing misdemeanor assault charges stemming from an incident outside the W hotel in October 2013.
Brown and Hollosy were offered plea deals which would charge each of them with only one count of misdemeanor assault. But since video surveillance from the incident still hasn’t been entered into evidence, and Brown’s bodyguard is only facing one count of assault to begin with, lawyers for Brown and Hollosy said they are rejecting the current plea deal at this time.
Both sides agreed to meet again on February 20. That would give both legal teams ample time to review the evidence once it is available and negotiate a possible plea deal.
Brown’s lawyers have requested a waiver of appearance for him for the February court date, citing the singer’s current enrollment in rehab for anger management. To appear in court would cause Brown to miss up to three days of treatment, his lawyers argued, delaying his completion of the program.
Brown faces 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1000 if convicted in Washington, but the singer’s real legal troubles are in California. Brown has been on probation for charges stemming from 2009, when he brutally attacked his then-girlfriend Rihanna.
A judge in California recently revoked Brown’s probation, but since Brown was already in a treatment program for anger management and completing his community service requirements, it had limited immediate effect.
The charges being brought against Brown in Washington could influence the judge’s decision on whether or not the R&B sensation has to serve jail time once he completes his rehabilitation.
His next court date in California is set for February 10, presumably before his legal woes in Washington will be settled.
Source: CNN