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Chris Brown Goes to Court to Talk Probation, Brings Girlfriend Rihanna
R&B singer Chris Brown appears in court for a probation progress report hearing on February 6, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Brown pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend, singer Rihanna, after a pre-Grammy Awards party in 2009. Prosecutors have alleged that he has failed to meet the terms of his probation. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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Chris Brown was in court in Los Angeles today to discuss concerns recently raised by prosecutors the singer had not sufficiently provided proof he'd completed his 180 days of community service as part of his probation. For moral support, Brown brought lady love Rihanna, who just happens to be the victim in the case that got him on probation to begin with.
This week L.A. prosecutors asserted a need for further proof Brown, 23, had fulfilled his full comm serv order, hinting that perhaps the star wasn't being up front with his hours.
In court papers filed Tuesday, Deputy District Attorney Mary Murray asked the judge to find Brown in violation of the terms of his probation, according to City News Service. Murray cited "significant discrepancies" in reports about Brown's community labor work in his native Virginia, where he was authorized by the court to complete the community service portion of his sentence. The discrepancies, Murray wrote, indicate "at best sloppy documentation and at worst fraudulent reporting."
Brown's attorney, Mark Geragos, said he was a little thrown by how the DA was handling things in this case. In a press conference after today's court appearance, Geragos took it a little further, according to TMZ."I have never had a client who has been tortured like Chris Brown has," said the attorney, adding: "The D.A. is paralyzed with the thought his probation will be terminated. If that happens they won't be able to jock him around like they've been jocking him around."
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But the prosecution does have some legit questions about the reporting of Brown's community service hours, including two instances where Virginia authorities say Brown did work, but evidence indicates the singer was elsewhere, specifically in Washington D.C. and Cancun, Mexico, respectively, at those times.
Other issues that have the DA's office seeking violation of probation include Brown's recent run-in with singer Frank Ocean at a West Hollywood recording studio, his testing positive for marijuana use last summer, and failing to obtain a travel permit for a trip to France last year.
Geragos confirmed Rihanna was present today to show support for her boyfriend, who wound up on probation and on the hook for community service after pleading guilty to assaulting her back in 2009.
Today, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James R. Brandlin ordered Brown to return to court April 5, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if the star has indeed violated the terms of his probation.
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