Updated: 6/22/09 4:58 p.m.
Chris Brown won’t be doing jail time now that a plea deal in the felony assault case against him has been reached.
TMZ.com reports that the singer will have to spend 180 days on probation in his home state of Virginia. He’s also been sentenced to five years of supervised probation for felony assault, and he’s been ordered to enroll in a domestic violence counseling program. He must also report to court every three months throughout his probation. Finally, Chris has been ordered to stay at least 50 yards away from Rihanna. If Chris violates the terms of his probation he could get up to four years in prison.
Rumblings of a plea deal began when cameras spotted Chris’ lawyer, Mark Geragos, leaving a Los Angeles County coourt house earlier today. There were also reports that Mark had been in chambers with the judge and prosecutors in Chris’ felony assault case.
The charges stem from his alleged altercation with Rihanna back in February.
Speculation that a deal had been reached increased when cameras were allowed into the courtroom, something that had previously been banned for the preliminary hearing.
Rihanna was on hand if the hearing had gone through, but now that a Chris copped to the deal, her testimony won’t be required and the case will not be going to trial. Although she was at the courthouse, she never went into the courtroom.
Click here to see what’s going on outside the courthouse right now.
– Sonya Eskridge
Here‘s more:
Rihanna subpoenaed for testimony
No delay for Chris’ hearing
Chris Brown turns himself in for battery
Picture of Rihanna’s injuries released
Rihanna: Chris’ attacks became ‘more violent;’ fight details leaked
