Poor, Chris Brown. He admits to fighting depression ever since being arrested on two felony charges for beating his ex, pop star Rihanna, last February.
But L.A. Superior Court judge Patricia Schnegg showed no leniency when the “Forever” singer appeared in her courtroom on Tuesday. She sentenced him to six months of hard physical labor instead of community service, which would have allowed the 20-year-old hip hop star to mentor youth.
And Judge Schnegg expressed displeasure in news reports that Chris violated a stay-away order by being in the same circles as Rihanna, such as the NBA playoffs, a Trump hotel in N.Y. and restaurants on Broadway in Times Square.
So she reinforced an order that Chris stay at least 1,000 yards away from his ex for the next five years unless they are at a music industry event in which Chris can be within 10 yards of her.

During Tuesday’s hearing, it was revealed that Chris and Rihanna had two previous violent encounters before the February incident on the night before the Grammy Awards in L.A. Three months prior while traveling in Europe, Rihanna slapped Chris and he shoved her into a wall. Then in Rihanna’s native Barbados, Chris broke the windows out of a Range Rover they had rented. The incidents weren’t reported until the trial.
Taking into account Chris’ past violent incidents, the judge also ordered him to undergo a year of domestic violence counseling.
If he successfully follows through with his sentencing, Chris’ two felonies will be reduced to misdemeanors. But if he violates any of the orders, the judge said he will be sent to prison.
I’m hoping Chris fulfills the conditions of his probation and gets his depression and anger under control because he has so much talent that he could rebound into a shining example for young men.

By Teneshia LaFaye
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