Chris Brown Guilty in 2009 Rihanna Assault Case

Chris Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault on June 22, 2009, following a physical altercation with his then-girlfriend Rihanna in the early morning hours of February 8, 2009, in Los Angeles.

The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. PST, with the altercation leaving Rihanna with visible facial injuries that required hospitalization. Brown turned himself in to the Los Angeles Police Department's Wilshire station later that day at 6:30 p.m.

Formal charges of felony assault and making criminal threats were filed on March 5, 2009. Brown initially pleaded not guilty on April 6, 2009, but changed his plea to guilty less than three months later on June 22, 2009.

On August 25, 2009, Judge Patricia Schnegg of the LA Superior Court handed down the sentence. Brown received five years of probation, six months of community service or community labor, and was mandated to complete one year of domestic violence counseling. A restraining order was also imposed, requiring Brown to maintain a distance of 50 yards from Rihanna—reduced to 10 yards at public events—for five years.

The case drew significant international attention as both were high-profile music industry figures at the time. The conviction marked a pivotal moment in discussions surrounding domestic violence in the entertainment industry.

Brown's probation period ended on March 20, 2015, following the completion of his court-ordered requirements.

**Sources:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9TZzvTZbhA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_issues_of_Chris_Brown https://www.courthousenews.com/chris-brown-pleads-guilty-to-assaulting-rihanna/