R&B singer Bobby Brown is in the middle of an eight-day sentence at DeKalb County Jail in Decatur, Georgia, after turning himself into police there Friday and pleading guilty to a seven-year-old driving under the influence charge. In addition to the jail time, Brown will remain on probation for two years, is prohibited from driving for a year, and will undergo counseling and pay $2,000 in fines.

Before turning himself in, Brown had been at large since a Georgia State Court issued a warrant for his arrest following his appearance at the American Music Awards last Monday in Los Angeles. That trip violated the terms of his $11,000 bond, which required him to stay in Georgia. Brown, who is married to Whitney Houston, also faces charges in Atlanta, where he was arrested this fall for other traffic charges and marijuana possession.

In July 2000, Brown spent nearly a month in jail for violating parole, also related to a drunk driving charge.

AUGUSTIN SEDGEWICK
(January 21, 2003)