Brown Pleads Not Guilty

04/07/09 2:09pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Chris Brown didn't beat up Rihanna. At least that's what he says.

Brown pleaded not guilty on Monday afternoon to felony charges of assault likely to cause great bodily injury and making criminal threats stemming from his alleged attack on Rihanna.

Brown arrived nearly half-an-hour late for his court appointment and spent less than 15 minutes there, according to MTV News. Brown's lawyer, Mark Geragos, was with the R&B star.

Geragos is reportedly seeking a plea deal and is close to getting one, according to TMZ, which also reported that Rihanna's lawyer, Donald Etra, said his client would prefer "if [the case] were over quickly."

Etra said if Rihanna were required to testify in a trial, "she will do everything the law requires her to do," according to US Weekly magazine.

Brown allegedly beat Rihanna when the couple were on their way home from a pre-Grammy Awards party in Los Angeles on Feb. 8. Brown is said to have tried to force Rihanna out of his car after she read a three-page text message on his cellphone from another woman. He's then said to have shoved her head against the passenger window, and punched her while driving, which left her mouth bloody.

Brown is also reported to have threatened to kill Rihanna, bitten her hands and face and nearly choked her unconscious.

TMZ later published a photo of Rihanna's face that was taken by police after the alleged attack.

Rihanna's father, Ronald Renty, told US Magazine that he wants Brown to "stop being in denial" about what happened.

"Who did it — that's the question now," he said to the magazine. "If he's not guilty, who did it? He should say 'guilty' and let the court be leaning into him and try himself to the mercy of the court, see if he gets a fine...

"Now he's going to go beyond that and it could go longer, it can be even worse. It can be worse for him in the long run."

He said Brown's career had already been damaged by the alleged attack. Brown was dropped by the Got Milk? campaign and his music has been pulled from several radio stations. He also withdrew his name from the Kids' Choice Awards ballot last month.

"I think he's a talented guy, but everybody should have to pay," Fenty said. "When you do the crime, you do the time. I don't want to see him locked up for a long time — I just want him to acknowledge and get some help."

Brown is due back in court April 29. He faces up to five years in prison if found guilty.