Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty Monday to threatening and assaulting his girlfriend, fellow music superstar Rihanna.
The 19-year-old R&B singer appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom alongside his lawyer, Mark Geragos. Brown entered his plea, speaking in a soft voice, while his mother sat in the first row, red-eyed.
He was charged in March by Los Angeles County prosecutors with felony assault likely to cause great bodily injury and making criminal threats.
He was arrested nearly a month earlier after police said he was involved in an early morning altercation with a woman who identified the “Run It!” singer as her attacker.
Court records list Brown’s victim as “Robyn F.” Rihanna’s real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty.
The 21-year-old “Umbrella” singer was represented by attorney Donald Etra, who said after the hearing that the singer is in “fine spirits” and spending time with her family in Barbados.
Etra also said Rihanna is hoping that a deal can be worked out before a preliminary hearing or trial in the case, but that she will testify if required to.
“She would be pleased if this was over quickly,” Etra said.
Etra said Brown’s plea was “totally expected.”
If convicted, Brown could be sentenced to probation or nearly five years in prison.
Neither side has publicly addressed Brown and Rihanna’s relationship since the incident.
But there has been discernible fallout and backlash since Brown’s arrest.
Neither singer performed at the Grammy Awards hours after the alleged beating, and both were also no-shows for the Kids’ Choice Awards show held March 28.
Sponsors have stopped using Brown, some radio stations have stopped playing his music and some broadcasters have even started playing an anti-Chris Brown song created by the little-known dance group Smoke Jumpers.
Brown left the courthouse with his mother, two bodyguards and an entourage. On his way out, he had to walk through a phalanx of cameras. He was picked up by a car in front of the courthouse.
Geragos offered no comment and quickly left the courthouse with his client.
