Chris Brown Strikes A Plea Deal In Assault Case

Singer will do 180 days of service; judge issues order for Brown to stay away from Rihanna.

LOS ANGELES — A last-minute plea deal was just announced between Chris Brown and the state of California in the singer's felony assault case for the incident involving his former girlfriend Rihanna, MTV News has learned live from inside the courtroom.

Brown, accompanied by his lawyer, pleaded guilty to the charges, and Judge Patricia M. Schnegg has sentenced him to 180 days of community labor, to be served in the singer's native Virginia.

Both Brown and Rihanna were present in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday afternoon (June 22) where the "Umbrella" singer was expected to testify. Rihanna had been subpoenaed by the district attorney's office and was expected to break her silence about the February incident that allegedly left her battered and bruised by Brown.

She did not testify, however, and the judge issued a five-year "stay away" order to Brown and said Rihanna would be entering the courtroom once Brown exited.

According to TMZ, Brown's attorney, Mark Geragos, was seen at the courthouse earlier in the day, visiting the judge's chambers to work on the final details of a plea bargain for his client.

A couple of hours later, Brown arrived a few minutes early at the courthouse in a gray suit and tie. Brown was accompanied by family members and offered no words to the media gathered outside. Rihanna's attorney, Donald Etra, entered the courthouse before Brown, and Rihanna was not present at the time, fueling speculation that a plea deal was eminent. Rihanna then entered the courthouse later through a back entryway, wearing dark glasses, according to multiple reports.

As the preliminary hearing began, word of the plea deal was soon announced to the courtroom.

Additional details of the plea bargain were not immediately made available as of press time. A press conference is expected to take place immediately following the hearing.

MTVNews.com will have more details on this developing story soon.