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Chris Brown - Source: Reuters -
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R&B singer Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to assaulting his former girlfriend, pop star Rihanna in an agreement with prosecutors that calls for him to spend five years on probation.
Brown, the singer of the hits Run It and Kiss Kiss, will also have to perform at least 180 days of community service in his home state of Virginia.
The 20-year-old singer entered the plea at a preliminary hearing in a Los Angeles courtroom. He had been accused of assaulting and making criminal threats against Rihanna in February on the eve of the music industry's Grammy Awards.
There was no plea agreement on the threat charge and a formal sentencing was scheduled for August 5. He had faced four years in prison if convicted in a trial on both charges.
"I think it's commendable that you took responsibility for your conduct sir," Judge Patricia Schnegg told Brown.
Brown, dressed in a plaid gray suit and accompanied by his mother, was also issued a stay-away order to keep his distance from Rihanna.
Barbados-born Rihanna, whose hits include Disturbia and Umbrella, also appeared in court but only after Brown left. Her attorney, Donald Etra, had said that she was prepared to testify against him.
"Rihanna believes this is a fair and just resolution to this case," Etra said outside the courthouse.
