Singer Chris Brown appeared before a Washington judge Wednesday along with his bodyguard Christopher Hollosy, facing 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 simple 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 $1,000 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 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.
Sunday night, R&B star Chris Brown, who has been keeping a low profile since pleading guilty last year in the assault case involving his former girlfriend Rihanna, broke down while performing a surprise tribute to Michael Jackson at the BET Awards.
The BET Awards audience was very much on Brown's side, helping him sing the lyrics to "Man in the Mirror" when he was overcome with emotion. But if reaction from pop culture observers and commenters is any indicator, he still has a ways to go.
"Blubbering Chris Brown steals show at BET Awards," sneered PopEater.com in its headline.
The Los Angeles Times ran a survey on its Goldderby awards website, headlining the story, "Was Chris Brown faking it at the BET Awards?"
Though close to 40 percent believed he was completely sincere, about 21 percent said he was faking -- and another 12 percent believed he was overdoing his emotion and overwhelmed by it at the same time. (A similar question is being asked by HLN's "Showbiz Tonight.")
Kirthana Ramisetti, managing editor of the pop culture site Predicto.com, says that Brown may have pushed things too far with the "Man in the Mirror" performance, which followed a series of dance routines to other Jackson songs.
"I think people felt, in terms of the dance tribute he did, I think people enjoyed that and were reminded that in spite of his past behavior and actions that he's a talented person," she says. "But when he started crying, you get a mixed reaction as to what's motivating that."
The theories about a calculating Brown don't surprise Janee Bolden, senior editor of the African-American celebrity gossip site Bossip.com
"Everybody's been very critical of every move he's made since the incident before the Grammys," she says.
But, she says, there was plenty of support for Brown at the awards show, and she believes it's a "great first step" in reviving his career.
"It was one of the best performances of the night," she says. "Everybody stopped what they were doing and watched, and you kept hearing over and over again [from his fellow performers] 'Chris Brown is back' and 'Let's give him a chance.' "
It's been a challenging year for Brown, to say the least. The Rihanna assault, which took place the night before the Grammy Awards, made the singer a pariah to many of the fans who had helped put him on top of the charts.
Last August, six months after the Rihanna incident, he was sentenced to serve five years probation and to spend more than 1,400 hours in "labor-oriented service" for the assault conviction. He worked 32 days of hard labor in Richmond, Virginia, according to that city's police chief.
A restraining order requiring Brown to stay 50 yards away from Rihanna, 10 yards if the two are at the same industry event, remains in place until 2014.
His career has yet to reach its former heights. In December, he released his latest album, "Graffiti." Reviews were, at times, merciless -- the Chicago Sun-Times Jim DeRogatis called it "thoroughly mediocre and at times just garbage" -- and to date, it has sold fewer than 500,000 copies, poor even in a time of diminished album sales. None of its singles have hit the Billboard Top 10.
Authorities haven't been much kinder. In early June, British officials barred him from entering the United Kingdom to perform, a decision based on the Rihanna case.
Brown, who turned 21 at the beginning of May, often hasn't helped his case. He's been a frequent social network user, often using services to either apologize or vent -- that is, when he wasn't leaving them entirely. (He quit Twitter late last year, only to rejoin in March.)
He apologized again at the BET Awards, telling the crowd, "I let you down before but I won't do it again, I promise."
"I think Chris Brown needs to stop being on the defensive, and just let his talent speak for itself," says Ramisetti. After all, she notes, any number of celebrities have made mistakes, but the public is generally forgiving -- if you give them time to forgive.
Bolden, whose site has made much of every Brown misstep, adds that he should take things slowly and more quietly.
"He's just a kid, and that's what people have to remember," she says. "You really don't want to do anything, if you're in his position, that reminds people of what happened. ... Only time will tell. Hopefully he can mature a little bit. There needs to be somebody in his camp guiding him to be a little more careful."
Perhaps Gucci, a commenter on the Bossip site, put it best:
"I think he's been forgiven a while ago. ... He just hasn't forgiven himself," and "that's why he won't act like he has damn sense," the commenter wrote.
"Stop with the [Twitter] rants, the pointless interviews, and the [whining] and just dance!"
Solemn music from the world's biggest stars served as the soundtrack to Friday night's telethon for Haiti relief, but the fundraiser ended with Wyclef Jean shouting "Enough of the moping, let's rebuild Haiti."
Organizers did not immediately say how much money was raised during the two-hour "Hope for Haiti Now" show, but donations will continue to flow in as the phone lines remained open and the night's musical performances are sold on iTunes.
A moving performance by Alicia Keys opened the telethon. Actor George Clooney, serving as the Los Angeles host for the event, made the first appeal for donations to raise money for relief efforts after last week's devastating earthquake.
"The Haitian people need our help," Clooney said. "They need to know they are not alone. They need to know that we still care."
The show was one of the most widely distributed prime-time televised benefits in history, appearing simultaneously on more than 25 networks -- including CNN, where Anderson Cooper reported live from Haiti during the event.
Children left homeless and orphaned by the earthquake were front and center.
"Hundreds and thousands of children in Haiti are lost and they're looking for their parents," actress Halle Berry said. "Please, look into your heart. Please, help these children of Haiti."
Cooper, in one of several live appearances, was joined by 5-year-old Monley, a Haitian boy who was pulled alive -- but severely dehydrated -- from the rubble nearly eight days after the quake. Ten members of his family, including both parents, were killed.
Actor Samuel L. Jackson, walking in front of a phone bank staffed by celebrities, assured viewers that "100 percent of your donations will go directly to organizations that are on the ground right now."
More than 100 actors, musicians and other celebrities answered phones in New York and Los Angeles -- after professional operators first talked to donors.
"Thank you so much for your donation," actress Reese Witherspoon told one caller. "You can't imagine how much love and great, wonderful energy is here today. People are doing everything they can to make a difference in these people's lives."
"I'm just calling to help out," the male donor said. "I couldn't donate a lot, but what I could I did donate."
Several other calls were aired live, including with Julia Roberts, Steven Spielberg, Taylor Swift and Stevie Wonder.
Boxing great Muhammed Ali appeared with comedian Chris Rock by his side.
Ali -- who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease 25 years ago -- sat silently as Rock delivered a message he said was written by Ali.
"There's an old saying that charity begins at home, but it cannot end there," Rock said.
Jean -- a native of Haiti and the New York host for the event -- talked about his visit last week to Haiti.
"I was there to clear away concrete and pull away rubble," Jean said. "I carried bodies of my people to the cemetery."
Jean's "Yele Haiti Foundation" will receive some of the money raised.
"From the ashes we shall rise, so please give what you can," he said.
Bruce Springsteen performed "We Shall Overcome," a spiritual that became the anthem of the U.S civil rights movement.
"This is a small prayer for Haiti," Springsteen said as he began.
Other musical performers included Stevie Wonder, Shakira, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Coldplay, Christina Aguilera, Taylor Swift, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, Jennifer Hudson, Madonna, Dave Matthews and Neil Young.
Bono, The Edge, Jay-Z and Rihanna also joined for a song.
Haitian singer Emeline Michel performed "Many Rivers to Cross," a Jimmy Cliff song.
Other celebrities appearing on the telethon included John Stewart, Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman, Ben Stiller, Clint Eastwood and Denzel Washington.
The show -- presented by MTV -- was carried on CNN.com/Live and the CNN iPhone application. Other networks airing "Hope for Haiti" included ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1 and CMT. The show was also aired on the Discovery's eco-lifestyle television network, Planet Green.
Proceeds from the telethon will benefit Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, UNICEF, the U.N. World Food Programme, Yele Haiti Foundation, and the Clinton Bush Haiti Foundation.
The event is not the first time the stars have come out to drum up donations in the aftermath of a catastrophe.
Celebrities stepped up to lend their names and voices to telethons after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami in South Asia. The predecessor of them all was Live Aid, which raised millions for the continent of Africa and was broadcast around the world in 1985.
Judy McGrath, the CEO of MTV Networks, told People magazine that she received a phone call from Clooney two days after the earthquake. The actor wanted to help, she said.
"He jumped in with such incredible commitment," McGrath said. "And he had already spoken to Bono, Wyclef, Sting and Bruce."
That commitment became the foundation for "Hope for Haiti." Putting his money where his star power is, Clooney has donated $1 million.
Sandra Miniutti, vice president of the charity evaluation organization Charity Navigator, said the relationship between charities and stars is mutually beneficial.
"The celebrity looks more altruistic to the public. They are seen doing good things and it makes them more endearing," she said. "For the charity, it makes them more important that they are able to be affiliated with such a well-known person."
Charities wouldn't be able, financially, to pay for the type of publicity and exposure celebrities bring to a cause, Miniutti said. And the success of drives such as the "American Idol" campaign, "Idol Gives Back," show the public doesn't mind programming that both entertains and inspires generosity.
In the case of Haiti, Miniutti said she believes the devastating images and stories are having a profound effect on the public.
"We are just seeing such a tremendous outpouring of support," she said. "I think people really do want to help."
Musical performances from the telethon will be available for purchase and download from Apple's iTunes store. Apple, the record labels and the artists have pledged to donate their share of the proceeds to Haiti relief funds managed by the telethon charities.
Understanding the Lyrics to "Run this Town Tonight"
"Feel the Illuminati comin' in the air " And the screams from everywhere I'm addicted to the Devil It's a dangerous love affair Can't be scared when it goes down Got a problem, tell me now Only thing that's on my mind Is who's gonna run this town tonight... Is who's gonna run this town tonight... The Illuminati going to run this town
Singer Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to one count of Felony assault on pop star Rihanna.
Brown entered his plea before a preliminary hearing was scheduled to start in Los Angeles on Monday.
Rihanna had been on standby to testify.
Brown will be sentenced on Aug. 5, but the terms of the plea deal call for him to serve five years of formal probation and six months – roughly 1,400 hours – of community labor. Brown will be able to complete his probation in his home state of Virginia; he will have to do either graffiti removal or roadside cleanup for his service.
A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said the terms were in line with what others receive when they're charged with similar crimes and who have no prior criminal history.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg also ordered the singer to stay away from Rihanna.
After Brown entered his plea and 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, 21, had not been seeking a stay-away order, but the judge imposed one. 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 she will be in violation if she gets closer to Brown than the order allows.
Rihanna was informed of the deal about an hour she could have been called as a witness, her attorney, Donald Etra, said. He said the singer “did not object” to the terms of the deal.
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 community service in his home state of Virginia. He'll have to return to California for updates every three months. He'll also be required to attend domestic violence classes.
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.”
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. He must now also remain out of trouble for the foreseeable future.
Lawyers for Brown and Rihanna have refused to discuss the status of the pair's relationship.
Brown was arrested Feb. 8, 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.
Brown, 20, rose to fame after the 2005 hit “Run It!” and his popularity has only grown. He was nominated for a Grammy for “No Air” with Jordin Sparks and named Billboard's top artist in 2008.
In the months since the incident, 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.
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.
R&B singer Chris Brown is going to court today and Rihanna may testify against him.
A preliminary hearing will be held in a Los Angeles courtroom Monday afternoon to determine if there is enough evidence to bring Brown to trial in the Grammy night beating of pop megastar and then-girlfriend Rihanna. According to Rihanna's lawyer, she will testify if called on by the prosecution.
However, it's unclear whether she will be called. She already gave an account of her alleged beating at the hands of Brown the night of the incident. And prosecutors can put the detectives who heard her story on the stand to get its point across, without calling Rihanna.
Will the case move forward? Experts say it's likely since the burden of proof for an indictment is much lower than that for an actual trial.
The hearing is set to begin today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern.
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