From www.nydailynews.com – R&B star Chris Brown accepted a plea deal Monday, avoiding jail time for beating up his ex-girlfriend Rihanna.
Brown, 20, pleaded guilty in Los Angeles Superior Court to to one count of felony assault stemming from the February attack on the Barbados-born songstress.
“Guilty,” Brown said in a soft voice, standing with hands clasped behind back.
Brown is expected to receive 5 years probation and be ordered to do 180 days of community service when he is sentenced later this year.
Judge Patricia Schnegg signed a protection order barring Brown from coming within 50 yards of Rihanna unless at a public event, when he must stay 40 yards away from her.
Wearing a gray plaid suit, white shirt and striped cream tie, Brown entered his plea as his mother watched from the courtroom gallery.
His plea allowed the 21-year-old Grammy-winner Rihanna to avoide testifying at Monday’s hearing.
The court proceedings were originally called to determine if there was enough evidence against Brown to continue the case. But the plea deal was instead revealed.
Brown and Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, got into a heated argument and a knock-down drag-out as they left a pre-Grammy party in a rented sports car.
Shocking pictures of Rihanna’s bruised and bloody face were leaked to the press days later.