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Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty To Two Felony Counts At Arraignment

4/6/09, 6:53 pm EST

Photo: Beck/AFP/Getty

Chris Brown pleaded “Not Guilty” to both felony counts he is currently facing at his arraignment today, April 6th, in a Los Angeles courtroom. With his lawyer Mark Geragos prompting him when to respond, Brown said “Not guilty” to charges of assault and making criminal threats related to his alleged February 8th altercation with Rihanna. After entering his plea, the judge told Brown that his next court date would be April 29th, which will be a “preliminary hearing.” The hearing was initially set for April 15th, but the late date gives the defense more time to work out a plea bargain. Rihanna was not present for the arraignment.

Earlier in the day, reports speculated that Geragos and the L.A. District Attorney were working overtime to map out some sort of plea deal that would have at least delayed today’s arraignment, but no such terms were worked out. Instead, Brown and his fleet of lawyers and bodyguards entered the courthouse at roughly 3:25 p.m. PST with a throng of paparazzi, screaming Brown supporters and the Rihanna’s Law group all mashed up against together behind the barricade.

If no plea bargain is worked out and this case does go to trial, with Brown pleading “not guilty” it is almost a guarantee that Rihanna would be called upon to testify against her alleged assailant. Shortly after the February incident, reports claimed Rihanna was reluctant to testify against Brown, but both the district attorney and the “Umbrella” singer’s lawyer have recently reiterated that Rihanna is cooperating with the D.A. Even without Rihanna’s testimony, there is a case against Brown, considering the “horrific” photographs of Rihanna’s injuries and her crime scene statements.

After the Brown arraignment, Rihanna’s lawyer Donald Etra held a press conference saying his client hoped the case would not go to trial and that a plea bargain would be reached. “She wants this to be over quickly,” Etra said.

Related Stories:

Chris Brown Charged With Two Felonies In Rihanna Assault Case, Faces Up to Nine Years In Prison
Rihanna and Chris Brown’s Grammy Weekend: Photos


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Comments

lynn | 4/6/2009, 7:59 pm EST

Chris Brown we love you. It’s almost over.

cb | 4/6/2009, 8:52 pm EST

I truly hate that everyone is making such a big deal out of this when it happens to millions everyday. What’s worse is that hardly any of the people go to jail over a first offense. Just because chris is famous, the stupid unbalanced judicial system of the US wants to prove that “everyone gets treated equally” when that is far from the truth. Poor chris brown’s career is going to suffer tremendously because everyone thinks that hitting a woman is the ultimate sin. I’m a woman and I don’t approve of anyone hitting anyone. But how can the justice system be balanced when other celebrities do stuff just as bad in my eyes but only get community service or rehab? Why does this young man have to face up to 9 years over something that is resolved between the two involved? The doggone DAs always in someones business. If chris and rihanna have reconciled what business is it of the state to put him in jail if she has no problem with him? Makes no sense…

StrummerJones | 4/6/2009, 9:14 pm EST

Does anyone find this picture as funny as I do?

Anonymous | 4/6/2009, 10:28 pm EST

Chris brown deserves whatever he gets. I think that went on in his home b/c he was to comfortable in hitting and hurting her. This is sad especailly for our black males. I have a daughter and I would not want some big mouth little hitting on her. I believe he hit her like a man so suffer the punishment like a man.

Tracie | 4/6/2009, 10:47 pm EST

Chris stay strong it’s almost over. You and Rihanna can go back to life soon. You looked so nice today and I know this ordeal is unbearable, but I admire your strength and fortitude. God Bless you and Rihanna.

easybeats | 4/6/2009, 11:34 pm EST

first off: yes, that picture is hilarious.
second: rihanna said she WOULD testify against him, so OBVIOUSLY she DOES care about it.
third: i hope he gets sent to the slammer. women beating is NOT OK

Jason | 4/6/2009, 11:50 pm EST

Because it’s a felony braniac. You are actually justifying hitting a woman AND YOU ARE A WOMAN!! Atleast he can look forward to getting on VH1’s one hit wonders some day. I hope Shatner is still around.

S.dog | 4/7/2009, 12:40 am EST

Chris should not go to jail. I think he learned from this and is so sorry about the whole thing. Poor thing hope to meet him some day. God bless Chris and everyone. peace!!!!!!

gg- albany, ny | 4/7/2009, 1:12 am EST

Chris and Rihanna havn’t reconciled. You’ve never been hit. It’s the 6 week headache and the endless operations for those of us who can afford. Looking in the mirror everyday and losing a part of your most precious part. Your face! I would never strike anyone until the day I was hit. Now I’ve changed. Bottom line: Men are stronger than women. A careless slap will break a woman’s neck. That’s why men should never hit a woman. If you can’t take her mouth, man up and get another girl. If she won’t shut up, man up and get another girl. They were arguiing in that car. The only reason a woman goes off on a man in a car while he is driving is because she’s had the conversation a 1000 times before and he’s not listening. Now he has to listen. A man does not have the right to be with a woman he is going to ignore or not respond to. Take a class, learn how to talk or get another girl. A girl can beat on a man’s chest and he’s not affected. If a woman stabs a man, he pulls the knife out and walks away to the ER. Women are not naturally violent. We grow up with dolls, they grow up with machine guns. If a woman stabs, slaps, kicks a guy it’s because it’s the 100th time he’s done wrong, not the first and only and that’s her only release. Women’s chemistry is different. We have chemistry that make us stick with loved ones – or else no one would take care of the children. Men do not have that chemistry. That’s why they go out and propogate. A man cannot settle down with one woman until he has come into himself. On that day, he will not hit his most precious commodity – his woman. Before that, get another girl the first fight if you don’t intend to do it all her way. Men beating up on women is not men, but males and the worst of the species. Rot in hell Chris Brown. All your money won’t teach you who you really are. You hit her like a man so do the time. You did the crime. That girl is too beautiful to touch like that. He obviously doesn’t love her. He can’t control her or any women. This stuff not being resolved properly is why some women go crazy. A man will never make a woman crazy, only a male. Important point to remember. Chris Brown is not capable of love if he is capable of what he did to Rihanna. How the hell do you get so mad at somebody you choke them and threaten to kill them? Wimp. Instead of using that money on lawyers [coward] you should use that money to show some love to starving children in Africa and wake up some feeling in your heart and then sit around and listen to some old men about what real love is. Martha Stewart went to jail and she’s older. Chris Brown need to sit down, shut the f— up and listen to the old men in jail. He’s pissing over all god gave him. Go to jail Chris. I’ll be praying that you do. Then you both can think about what you are doing. Rihanna is too young to handle all this but as a role model she can’t let him get away with this. She’s going down the wrong road. I’ve heard this is their ritual. It’s sick but I believe she’ll be alright. Chris Brown is a coward and a liar and a bully.

Brian Gallagher | 4/7/2009, 1:48 am EST

Stick a fork in Chris`s career. Fuckin bully.

tiaan | 4/7/2009, 3:48 am EST

stay strong chris you will get through this and i can’t wait for your new album i still think ur amazing

Jesus | 4/7/2009, 5:26 am EST

Chris, your true punishment awaits in the afterlife. Enjoy this pity party while you can. Hell isn’t too far away!!!

Anonymous | 4/7/2009, 6:01 am EST

Chris should take his punishment like a man. If he was ‘man’ enough to beat on Rihanna the way he did, he should accept the consequences of his actions. He is a pitiful coward, a sorry excuse for a man, when he knows full well what he did, in fact the whole world knows what he did. And it is just shameful that there are actually people supporting him in this situation. Society is heading downhill. It saddens me to accept it.

??????????????? | 4/7/2009, 6:56 am EST

WELL I THINK A MAN SHOULDN’T PUT HE’S HAND ON A WOMEN AND I THINK A WOMEN SHOUULDN’T PUT HER HAND ON A MAN. WE ALL BEEN RAISE SO WE DO’T HAVE TO BE RAISE AGAIN. WHAT EVER GOD HAS IN STORE FOR HIM AND HER IS FOR THEME. EVERY ONE BLOWING THIS ALL OUT OF WACK. PEOPLE DIDN’T TALK DOWN ON M.JACKSON WHEN HE HAS MESSING WITH THEME LITTLE BOYS. POPLE STILL LOVE HIM. THIS WOMEN HIT HIM OVER SOME CRAP. DON’T DO NOTHING TO KNOW ONE THAT YOU DON’T WANT DONE TO YOURSELF. BE BLESS.

Janet Mukasa | 4/7/2009, 8:25 am EST

Yes, Physical violence in whatever form and by whatever gender should not be tolerated . That is what girls should know as wel. Dont go hitting guys becoz they are not supposed to hit bak.

joy | 4/7/2009, 10:23 am EST

I agree with ?????????????????? everyone sill likes michael jackson and everone hates chris.

Rudeboy | 4/7/2009, 11:05 am EST

How can you be not guilty? You already apologized. Who did it then Chris? F*** You punk.

bub | 4/7/2009, 11:46 am EST

this is far from over!!! Go directly to jail, do not pass go!!! Dumb kid looks scared in that picture, priceless

Pslightly Psycho | 4/7/2009, 11:51 am EST

Of courrrrrssse he’s not guilty. He’s a celebrity for chrissakes!

Pslightly Psycho | 4/7/2009, 11:58 am EST

It is amazing to me that there are actually posters here that stand by Chris Bown despite the fact he is an abuser of women. I am willing to bet these folks are high school dropouts,wear their jeans down to their kneecaps, have minimum wage jobs, hang with their mofos in parking lots, have participated in at least one driveby shooting in their liftime, are the product of hip-hop culture,and have no future whatsoever. Wake up you morons. You are a disgrace to your race!

hulkhogan | 4/7/2009, 12:01 pm EST

Hey brother this guy chris is a women beater and should do the time if it was any other gabrone he would still be in jail…but since he’s a celeb he’s excempt

Torria | 4/7/2009, 12:13 pm EST

Chris, look to the lord and all your help and strength comes from him. Be strong and God Bless.l and yo.
anr

ys | 4/7/2009, 12:27 pm EST

I honestly believe Chris hit her in self-defense. Women hit men first all the time. Chris is pleading not guilty because Rihanna started the fight! If you start a fight with someone (woman or man), you should expect to get hit back. Chris, I wish you the best. You’re in my prayers.

you people are fools | 4/7/2009, 1:17 pm EST

chris brown is a giant douche bag;
it does not matter if she hit him first. you don’t hit back, especially a woman,
to all of you dumbass women who defend chris brown, i hope you get your ass beat too,

GodSendDeath | 4/7/2009, 2:06 pm EST

“Not guilty” huh? What a fucking clownshoe.

rita oliver | 4/7/2009, 2:17 pm EST

ROT IN JAIL , YOU BUM’

Ann | 4/7/2009, 2:39 pm EST

How can one plead “not guilty” when they have already admitted to the crime?

GodSendDeath | 4/7/2009, 3:00 pm EST

This guy is walking, living, breathing proof that abortion should be legal into the 80th trimester.

jj | 4/7/2009, 3:00 pm EST

Chris Brown we hate you. Your life is almost over.

victoria | 4/7/2009, 3:04 pm EST

Chris you have more supporters then haters. It will be over and your fans will support you 100%

Anonymous | 4/7/2009, 3:14 pm EST

Chris Brown is a scumbag and deserves nothing short of jail time for his crimes, in which he is most definitely GUILTY! And I’m dumbfounded by anyone that defends him. If you defend him you’re either abusive yourself or the dumbest damn individual that ever walked the planet! If you support Chris Brown you need to keep quiet, because you’re doing nothing but humiliating yourself by drawing clear attention to how stupid you really are. And may God help you and have mercy on you for believing “Chris ‘wife beater’ Brown” deserves anything short of being exiled from this country all together! I hope he goes to jail and I hope he gets the ass raping of the century!

Rabbit | 4/7/2009, 3:20 pm EST

1st of all, both are wrong. It dont matter if you are a woman or a man, if she hit him, he should have knocked her ass out, sometimes women provoke men to where they need to put their hands on them. I know if i was guy and my woman hit me, i will hit her back. I think everyone it taking their situation the wrong way. NOBODY dont know what really happen. B/c why is Rihanna not showing up in court???? B/c her ass will be locked up as well. North Carolina; if both hit each other, BOTH go to jail. So that is why she wont testify b/c she is going have to tell what ALL REALLY happen from A to Z. I support both of them. She shouldn’t have called the police. IF this sh** been going on then she is stupid for staying. You know once you are a celebrity, nothing stays behind closed doors. Stupid.

chris Carman | 4/7/2009, 3:53 pm EST

its unnerving how many young women are showing support for this cretin. You should be ashamed of yourselves….

Anonymous | 4/7/2009, 4:02 pm EST

nobody should be hitting anybody
don’t be so quick to judge you never say never there are thousands if people who are doing things they thought never been possible look at your at yourself

Avril Jackman | 4/7/2009, 4:50 pm EST

I don’t know what happened between the two, but for me I think it is very sad. Here u have these two obviously young people inthe prime of their lives and at the pinnacle of their careers and wham look what happened. Now those who were for them are now so divided. Real men don’t hit women, they walk away. Clearly u can see that Chris is not a man yet. He may be at legal age, but alas not a man. To his credit, because he isn’t a man, u can’t expect much more from him. The healing time is now. And I hope with God’s helps and our prayers, that they can get behind this. Rhianna I hope u don’t ever let another man hit u again, and Chris I hope u don’t ever raise your hands towards another woman. And I hope for both yoursakes you dont raise your hands to each other. May God be with you both. Know that u can get back from anything, any situation and u can choose you this day who you will serve. and let that person u serve be God, the God Almighty, The Alpha and Omega.

SuzeeQ | 4/7/2009, 5:30 pm EST

Women need to wake up and protect themselves from any kind of assault whether it’s from a stranger, a boyfriend, husband, brother, father, etc. Women have been victims for too long and it’s now time for them to take control and live without fear. If Rihanna had a taser or pepper spray on her, Chris Brown would have been the one hurting, not her. Women need to start carrying personal protection devices with them at all times no matter where they are or what they are doing. An excellent resource for these types of non-lethal self defense products can be found at stingergirlz.com. This site also provides on importantant hotlines in each state for victims who need to reach out for help. LADIES – STAY SAFE AND DON’T BE VICTIMS! Rihanna – I hope you don’t go back to that creep and subject yourself to his abuse again. Peace out!

TIP | 4/7/2009, 6:15 pm EST

Hit her in the tummy next time it will NOT show!

CHOZEN 1 | 4/7/2009, 6:23 pm EST

Chris Brown stay strong. Everyone makes mistakes and nobody is perfect.Chris Brown needs to repent before God and stay out of the dark side. If God forgives why shouldn’t we?

Alpha | 4/7/2009, 7:00 pm EST

Both Chris n Rihana shld take dis matter easy. They shld settle amicably out of court. 4give each other n let peace reign supreme.

Cadillac Slim | 4/8/2009, 12:03 am EST

look here player, don’t let these muthafuckas get you down pimp, the world needs you, hoes ain’t gonna smack themselves.

Wolflikeme | 4/8/2009, 12:20 pm EST

Hey SuzeeQ, if a woman has to keep a taser or mace in her own house when she’s w/ her “partner,” that’s probably a good tip that she’s in a bad relationship.
Also, is anyone else sick and freakin’ tired of people complaining about all the “haters” bringing down these poor celebrities? Chris Brown should be allowed to beat the hell out of anyone he wants w/o any criticism (as long as they weigh under 120 lbs and have tits). Lindsey Lohan should be able to drive through a school zone doing an 8-ball and knocking back a handle of vodka.
Please, if you want to talk about “haters” keeping someone down, talk about the thousands of folks who have lost their jobs in the past year through no fault of their own. Talk about warlords running Darfur. But please, spare us the same tired BS about “haters” picking on folks who have created their own self-inflicted mess.
Happy Easter, mates.

Sally | 4/8/2009, 4:15 pm EST

Any other domestic abuse case us squashed if the woman doesn’t press charges; somehow in this case it’s “the people vs Chris Brown. Who the heck r the people. It sure ain’t me he didn’t hit anyone else. They r trying to lock this kid for some bs. What happened to rehab like everyone else in LA– they r really keeping us safe by locking up a 19 yrs old kid

Wolflikeme | 4/8/2009, 5:14 pm EST

Sally, you are wrong about a case being dismissed just b/c the woman doesn’t want to prosecute. Most women don’t want to prosecute b/c they are scared shitless of their abusive partner. The cops can still testify what they witnessed and what the victim originally told them.
It’s the “people” vs him b/c it’s a criminal case. I don’t disagree w/ you about me not having a dog in this fight, but the State is a party in a criminal case and that’s why they can prosecute even w/ an unwilling victim.
If it were only about whether the victim wanted to prosecute, then nobody could ever be prosecuted for murder.

Elle | 4/10/2009, 4:47 pm EST

Avril Jackman, I could not have said it better myself. KUDOS!!

benzcherif | 4/16/2009, 2:39 pm EST

set cris free

Hopoffchrissrockx) | 4/28/2009, 9:33 am EST

pslighty psycho. What the hell? You’re talkin bout black people in general. We not all TI. You sound dumb. Haters hop of chris’s rock. Shit. ppl dont know when to just lay down. Rihanna is guilty of starting the fight. chris is guilty of defending himself. the end. Hes a boy, so hell hit her like his sister, not his wife. WTF? ppl have no sense. Let it go. I pray for chris. And the haters. Dont even comment on his blogs cuz you aren’t important.

Hopoffchrissrockx) | 4/28/2009, 9:35 am EST

cadillac slim i hop you get fired in your shriveled nuts for what you just said nigga. No “hoe” deserves to be beat. Even rihanna doesn’t. So leave it alone. But they both at fault here.

brianna | 4/29/2009, 12:02 pm EST

chris had a reason to bet her ass that girl pissed him off

tank | 4/29/2009, 12:06 pm EST

chris is still a g no matter what happens chris is still gonna mess around rihanna so he is still gonna tap that

tank | 4/29/2009, 12:06 pm EST

chris is still a g no matter what happens chris is still gonna mess around rihanna so he is still gonna tap that

sweetfaty | 5/7/2009, 12:54 pm EST

no woman deserves to be beaten lik that.but rihanna som how had it comin..she hit him first so she totally deserve it….hop it’ll be over soon…chris we still love u stay strong……..may god be wit u..kiss kiss

Mrs. Stewart | 5/18/2009, 12:29 pm EST

FORGIVENESS—If we confess our sins, GOD will forgive our sins. We can trust GOD. He does what is right. He will make us clean from ALL the wrongs we have done!!! Keep your head up Chris Brown cause GOD’s opinion is the only one that matters. You are in my prayers.

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