James Allen News Center

Yesterday at Los Angeles County Superior Court, R&B singer Chris Brown was sentenced for assaulting girlfriend Rihanna, pop singer of the hit `Umbrella`. He was ordered to serve 180 days of community service, put on probation for 5 years and made to attend a 52-week domestic violence program sponsored by the Commonwealth Catholic Charities. Brown was also ordered to stay away from Rihanna for the next 5 years.

Considering heavy rumors suggesting that Chris secretly gave Rihanna an engagement ring before the highly-publicized incident, the 5 year mandatory restraining order may have been the harshest of the punishments. In a report released after the sentencing, Brown is quoted as saying he has been "depressed" since the assault and that he "does not want to carry on that cycle."

Judge Patricia Schnegg explained to Brown that he could be sent to state prison if he violated any terms of his sentence. Specifically, he must stay 100 yards away from Rihanna for the next 5 years, unless they're co-attending a music industry event, in which case, he must stay 10 yards away.

Brown will serve his sentence in Virginia, where his family is from, and his community service will be monitored by the police chief in Richmond.

Brown agreed to the terms of the sentence before Schnegg had even finished going through them all. His mother was by his side. Rihanna did not attend, but her attorney, Donald Etra, said that she did not object to the sentencing.

Addressing rumors that Chris and Rihanna have been spotted in close proximity since the assault, judge Schnegg told Brown "I am not amused with the chatter that has been on the airwaves and any violation of your probation in this case comes with the potential for state prison."

 "We feel that the sentence for Mr. Brown is an equitable one," said Sandi Gibbons, a district attorney's spokeswoman. "He has his future in his hands. He has control of his fate."