Chris Brown Pleaded Not Guilty
Chris Brown
Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty, on Monday, to threatening and assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Rihanna.
The 19-year-old singer appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom along with his lawyer, Mark Geragos.
Brown stated his plea, speaking in a soft voice, while his mother sat in the first row.
Brown was charged, in March by the Los Angeles County prosecutors, with felony assault likely to cause great bodily injury and making criminal threats. He was arrested about a month earlier after police said he was involved in an early morning incident with a woman who identified the R&B singer as her attacker.
Court records list Brown’s victim as “Robyn Rihanna Fenty.” Rihanna’s real name.
The “Disturbia” singer was represented by attorney Donald Etra. Etra said that after the hearing the singer is in “fine spirits” and spending time with her family in Barbados.
Etra included, Rihanna is hoping that a deal can be worked out before a preliminary hearing or trial for the case, but that she will testify if it is necessary to.
“She would be pleased if this was over quickly,” Etra said.
Etra said Brown’s plea was “totally expected.”
If Brown is convicted, he could be sentenced to probation or up to five years in prison.
Neither of the singers performed at the Grammy Awards, hours after the alleged beating, and both were not at the Kids’ Choice Awards show, held March 28.
Some radio stations have stopped playing Brown’s music and some broadcasters have even started playing an anti-Chris Brown song, sung by the dance group Smoke Jumpers.
Chris Brown left the courthouse with his mother, two bodyguards and an entourage. On his way out, he had to walk through a crowd of cameras. He was picked up by a car in front of the courthouse.
