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Chris Brown agrees to plea deal – pleads guilty to assault

By | Published on Tuesday 23 June 2009

I think there’s an important lesson for young guys all over America in this. If you’re going to beat your girlfriend unconscious, make sure you’re rich enough to hire the sort of lawyers capable of negotiating you a cushy plea bargain first. Partly because it will mean you avoid any of that tedious jail time, and partly because I’m pretty sure that’s what Jesus would want.

Yes, America’s top pop thugster Chris Brown yesterday reached a plea deal with prosecutors with minutes to spare before the first formal court hearing regarding those allegations that the R&B star beat up his then girlfriend Rihanna in the street after a post-party row half way through this year’s Grammy weekend. Brown pleaded guilty to one count of assault, for which he will be sentenced to five years probation and six months community service. He’ll also have to attend a domestic violence class. Presumably so he can do it better next time.

Rihanna’s legal man Donald Etra said the singer thought the plea deal was a “fair and just resolution” to the case, and at least the bargain means she won’t have to go through the trauma of testifying against her ex. As part of the settlement Brown was also told to stay 50 yards away from his former girlfriend at all times, except at pop star events where such a rule may be impractical, so a ten yard exclusion zone will apply. Meaning that while the pop star may be able to throw a bottle in his ex-girlfriend’s direction, he won’t be able to throw any punches.

Having confirmed a plea deal had been reached and therefore no trial would now take place, Judge Patricia Schnegg told Brown: “I think it’s commendable that you took responsibility for your conduct, sir”.

Brown has previously been cautious of admitting to any violence in relation to the Rihanna altercation, saying simply that he was “sorry and saddened” by the incident. Such caution was probably for legal rather than PR reasons. Although he has now formally admitted beating up his former other half, from a career point of view at least he can try and draw a line on the incident, apologise and get on with his life, hoping a previous commitment to get counselling will reassure the public he won’t ultimately beat up the next girl he hangs out with.

Though, while his core fanbase have remained loyal throughout, whether Brown’s mainstream pop career can ever completely recover from a violent altercation that led the news agenda in the US for a good week remains to be seen.



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