Chris Brown. (Photo by CNN)
Story Created:
Feb 19, 2010 at 12:18 AM PST
Story Updated:
Feb 19, 2010 at 12:44 AM PST
A Los Angeles judge Thursday lauded R&B singer Chris Brown for complying with the terms of his sentence for assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna after a pre-Grammy Awards party last year.
"It looks like you're doing really, really well,'' Superior Court Judge Patricia M. Schnegg told the 20-year-old entertainer.
The judge noted that Brown has completed 17 of his required 52 domestic- violence counseling sessions and performed 32 of his 180 required days of hard labor.
Schnegg said she appreciated that the police chief in Richmond, Va. -- the state where Brown lives -- is "following my order and listing each and every task that is performed'' by the singer to satisfy the hard labor requirement.
The judge ordered Brown to return to the downtown Los Angeles courthouse on May 11 for another progress report hearing.
Brown was sentenced last Aug. 25 to five years probation and the yearlong domestic violence program, plus 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, during which the restriction would be lowered to 10 yards.
Brown pleaded guilty last June 22 to assault, admitting he attacked Rihanna during an argument that began around 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 8, 2009, 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 has issued a videotaped apology posted on his Web site, telling 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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