Singer Bobby Brown begins jail sentence in LA

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LOS ANGELES, March 20 (UPI) -- Rhythm and blues singer Bobby Brown began a jail sentence in Los Angeles Wednesday for driving under the influence and other infractions.

Brown, 44, made an appearance in Los Angeles County Court before being taken to the lockup, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The singer pleaded no contest in February to charges he was driving drunk with a suspended license when arrested last October.

Already on probation, Brown was given 10 days for drunken driving, 10 days on the license count and 35 days for violating his probation.

But the Times said sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said because of jail overcrowding and other factors such as good behavior, Brown likely will serve no more than nine days.

Once he's out, he'll be on probation for four years and will be under court order to attend three AA meetings a week and go through an 18-month alcohol-treatment program, the newspaper said.

He also will be required to have an alcohol interlock device installed on his car.

TMZ reported it is Brown's third driving DUI conviction.

Brown, who has a history of substance abuse, was the ex-husband of the late pop star Whitney Houston, who drowned in a hotel bathtub in February 2012 after drinking and using drugs.