Chris Brown Rejects Plea Deal In Assault Case

Chris Brown rejected a plea deal in an assault case stemming from an incident outside the W Hotel in Washington, D.C. last October.

Reports indicate that Brown and a companion were posing for a picture outside the hotel when a man interrupted. The 24-year-old reportedly became combative and said he felt like boxing before punching the man in the face. His bodyguard was also accused of hitting the man.

Brown and his bodyguard Christopher Hollosy were offered plea deals which would charge both of them with one count of simple assault. But since no video surveillance of the incident has been entered into evidence, as well as the fact that Hollosy is only charged with one count of assault, lawyers for the men said they are rejecting the plea deal.

Both sides will meet again February 20, giving both legal teams enough time to review the evidence once it is available, and negotiate a second possible plea deal. Chris Brown’s lawyers have requested a waiver of appearance for him for next month’s court date as he is currently in rehab for anger management.

The “Fine China” singer entered a rehab facility in October after the incident outside the W Hotel. He left after two and a half weeks, but was ordered to spend 90 days in another facility in November after flying into a “violent rage” at the first facility in Malibu.

According to his lawyers, Brown’s appearance in court would cause him to miss three days of treatment, delaying his completion of the program. He was granted a day off last month to attend a holiday toy drive and returned to rehab promptly after the event finished.

Chris Brown faces 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 if convicted in D.C. But his legal problems don’t end there. A California judge recently revoked his probation on charges stemming from the 2009 assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna, but since Brown is already in treatment for anger management, the revocation had a limited effect. Brown is due in court in California on February 10.

[Photo credit: Eva Rinaldi / Flickr]