http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=415548>1=28102 LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 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. After Brown 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 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. Brown's lawyer, Mark Geragos, said the plea deal includes five years of supervised probation and six months of community labor. Brown will be formally sentenced on Aug. 5. 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------
So that's the going rate for getting to beat the hell out of someone nowadays? Or is that the "celebrity justice" price? The legal system is disgusting at times.
Well, domestic violence charges and sentences have always been pretty soft regardless of celebrity status.
Really? Then that may be even more repulsive. I may have reacted too quickly, but is there anything she said that may have reduced his punishment? Or was this basically what they thought was just in this case (according to the law)?
I know we have a few lawyers and law students on the board, what is the going punishment for the average person in Houston for this type of thing?
I don't think she testified or anything but she was prepared to take the stand. I mean, if he pleads guilty then why do you need people to testify?
i don't know how much you can trust people on the radio, but they were saying 15 days with people typically getting out after 3 days for time served. i think it's good that he was brought to some sort of justice. how many times do people like this not even have charges brought against them because the women are too scared to press charges?
ya think? This was the time to teach this kid a real lesson, and the justice system failed. You're right Dave_78, this kid will do it again and probably get away with it again.
he didn't get away with it. those assholes whose wifes/girlfriends/kids are too scared to report it get away with it. can someone confirm what a normal sentence is for first-time offenders?
You're right, those M-Fers really get away with it, but in the Chris Brown case, Compared to the reported sentence he could have received, 180 hrs of community service hrs with no jail time, IS getting away with it. Does anyone honestly believe this kid is even going to do 1 hour of that community service? He will pay his way out of that too. I guarantee you that this wasn't the first. second, or third time he has laid his hands on her or any one his other gfs.
According to one of the top contributors on Yahoo! Answers, this is what a first time offender can expect for felony domestic violence and abuse. If it's a misdemeanor, I am sure it is less:
The justice system is messed up when it comes to domestic violence and DWIs... I think they deserve much more harsher punishment than the current punishments. Deaths by DV and DWIs can be avoided if the person served time.
I don't know about that. Let's say CB went to jail for 6 months or even a year. What the hell is that going to accomplish? After 6 months he is done and free to do whatever he wants. With this sentence, he has 5 years to deal with what he did. He has to be out in the streets picking up trash, plating trees, washing fire trucks. He also has to go to counseling. I think that as a society, we focus too much on punishment instead of trying to stop people from offending again. The fact is that we tried throwing the book at criminals and we ended up with so many repeat offenders we don't have enough room in jail now. The system isn't working and needs a restructuring. You can say that about most state and federally run projects.
Yeah. You're right... how about we don't punish anyone for ANYTHING at all? HE WILL NOT be doing that. I don't know what world you're living in, sir, but as a celebrity that he is, he will probably just sign a few autographs and "talk" to a bunch of kids in low-income areas about "stay in school" for 15 minutes and that will be his "community service." That's how silly it is for that type of sentence. Well, what do you suggest we do instead, sir? How do you even stop that? I agree, it should be a harsher sentence. This probational and community service crap is a joke. No wonder other countries see the U.S.'s justice system as a joke. "Justice" system isn't.
