Story Created:
Nov 20, 2009 at 2:28 AM PST
Story Updated:
Nov 20, 2009 at 2:33 AM PST
R&B singer Chris Brown, who previously admitted assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna after a pre-Grammy Awards party, was praised Thursday by a judge for receiving an "extremely favorable progress report.''
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia M. Schnegg ordered the 20-year- old entertainer to return to the downtown courthouse on Feb. 18 for another progress report hearing.
"It's an extremely favorable progress report,'' the judge said after reviewing the Probation Department document detailing Brown's progress since his Aug. 25 sentencing.
Schnegg noted that Brown will have to come back to court every three months until he finishes a yearlong domestic counseling program, but that he won't have to personally report to court once that is done.
The singer has already completed more than 100 hours toward his required 180 days of community labor, and has done seven sessions in the domestic violence counseling program, defense attorney Mark Geragos told the judge.
The judge said the police chief in Richmond, Va. -- the state where Brown lives -- is "keeping very detailed records'' about the singer's community labor.
Brown was sentenced just under three months ago to five years probation and the yearlong domestic violence program and 180 days of community labor, which could include highway cleanup, litter removal or other similar work.
A protective order also requires Brown to stay at least 100 yards away from Rihanna, unless they are both attending an entertainment industry function, where the restriction would be lowered to 10 yards.
Brown pleaded guilty June 22 to assault, admitting he attacked Rihanna during an argument that began around 12:30 a.m. Feb. 8 while the singers were in a rented Lamborghini on North June Street near First Street.
A second felony count -- criminal threats -- was dismissed as a result of Brown's guilty plea.
Since then, Brown issued a videotaped apology posted on his Web site in which he told his fans his conduct had been "inexcusable.''
"I have told Rihanna countless times -- and I'm telling you today -- that I am truly, truly sorry ... that I wasn't able to handle the situation both differently and better,'' he said in the two-minute apology.
He said he wished that "I had a chance to live those moments again. But, unfortunately, I can't. I cannot go into what happened and, most importantly, I'm not going to sit here and make any excuses. I take great pride in me being able to exercise self-control, and what I did was inexcusable. I am very sad and very ashamed at what I've done.''
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