Brown pleads guilty to hitting Rihanna

LOS ANGELES, June 22 (UPI) -- Recording artist Chris Brown pleaded guilty to a felony assault charge Monday in a Los Angeles court for hitting his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna.

TMZ reported Brown, 20, received no jail time, but will serve 180 days of community labor, such as road cleanup, in Virginia where he lives.

He has also been ordered to stay 50 yards away from Rihanna, 21, except at entertainment events where he may get get as close as 10 yards. In addition, he will go through domestic violence counseling and be on supervised probation for five years, TMZ said.

Brown initially pleaded not guilty to assaulting Rihanna during a heated argument in a car last February, but changed his plea Monday.

"Mr. Brown, I think it's commendable that you took responsibility for your conduct," People.com quoted Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg as saying during the hearing.

People.com said formal sentencing will be Aug. 5 when a second charge of making criminal threats will be considered for dismissal.

"I want Mr. Brown to be treated the same as any other defendant who would come into this court," the judge said. "That means something like Caltrans (trash pickup) or graffiti removal, and a two-week domestic violence program."

Several of Brown's family members and friends were on hand to watch.

People.com said after Brown left the courtroom, Rihanna appeared before the judge to learn the terms of the deal. Rihanna had asked the judge not to order Brown from getting close to her, the report said.