August 5, 2009 4:43 PM ET
Chris Brown will be formally sentenced today, August 5th in Los Angeles after pleading guilty June 22nd to assault charges stemming from his February 8th altercation with Rihanna. As Rock Daily previously reported, Brown avoided jail time by reaching a plea bargain with the prosecution that will likely result in a sentence of five years probation, about 1,400 hours in "labor-oriented service" and the completion of a domestic violence counseling program. According to CNN, Rihanna will not be in court during sentencing. "Her presence is not required," Rihanna's lawyer Donald Etra said. "She will be working out of state." Brown's presence, however, is mandatory.
Etra, acting on behalf of Rihanna, is expected to ask the judge to withdraw a ruling that forces Brown to remain 50 yards away from Rihanna at all times. At the initial sentencing, Etra asked the judge to withdraw that edict, saying that since both Brown and Rihanna were in the entertainment field, it was inevitable that they'd come within 50 yards of each other. A 10-yard parameter was then established in case the two stars found themselves at the same event, like when they both attended an Orlando Magic playoffs game back in June.
"If asked, we will tell the court that all that's necessary is a level-one order: That Brown not annoy, molest or harass her," Rihanna's lawyer Donald Etra told People magazine. "No stay-away order was ever requested by Rihanna, nor did she ever believe it was necessary." Brown was also ordered not to communicate with Rihanna.
As Rock Daily reported earlier this week, Brown made a surprise appearance at Lil Wayne's America's Most Wanted tour stop in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with Brown taking the stage as a replacement for the injured rapper Drake. The performance was Brown's first time back on stage since the February 8th incident.
Related Stories:
• Chris Brown Avoids Jail Time With Rihanna Assault Plea Deal
• Chris Brown Returns To the Stage During Lil Wayne's Virginia Show
• Chris Brown Issues Video Apology for Rihanna Assault
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