Rapper Chris Brown was sentenced today to five years probation and six months community service for savagely attacking R&B singer Rihanna. Brown was ordered to stay away from Rihanna for the next five years. He was instructed that he would be sent to state prison if he violated any terms of his sentence. He is expected to serve his sentence in his home state of Virginia.
For unknown reasons, the judge said she wanted to ensure that Brown, 20, performs physical labor rather than other forms of community service like working with troubled youths or the homeless. Rihanna’s attorney, Donald Etra, stated that the strict rules were unnecessary, and that they preferred a ruling that simply ordered Brown not to harass Rihanna. The Court indicated that it had taken into account reports of Brown seen on several occasions in close proximity as Rihanna.
Brown was arrested earlier this year for rendering the singer unconscious after a verbal dispute between the two turned physical. A Los Angeles police detective described the attack in a search warrant affidavit filed in the case, stating that Brown hit, choked and bit Rihanna.
Brown’s career suffered after his arrest, with sponsors dropping him and radio stations refusing to play his music. Both recording artists had to cancel several high-profile appearances, including planned performances at the Grammy Awards the day of the attack.
The fallout from his attack compelled Brown to issue a statement on MTV explaining what happened in his words. Here’s the video: