Chris Brown appeared in a DC court today, charges downgraded to misdemeanor (update)

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Chris Brown was arrested very early yesterday outside of the W Hotel in Washington, DC. He and his giant bodyguard punched the hell out of at least one dude, although the circumstances of exactly what went down are fluid. Chris and his bodyguard were immediately arrested and taken into custody, and they were in jail for more than 24 hours. That’s the way it works in most of the country – you won’t get a court appearance until Monday if you’re arrested over the weekend. So at least sucky baby had to spend a little time behind bars. Chris is due in court later today (it’s probably happening as I’m writing this). Here are some new details about what went down:

Pop star Chris Brown will be arraigned today on a felony assault charge in Washington, D.C., following his arrest over the weekend stemming from an incident outside a nightclub.

Brown, 24, was arrested with his bodyguard following “an altercation” outside the W Hotel at 4:30 a.m., a D.C. police spokeswoman confirmed to ABC News.

The incident happened after Brown left the D.C. club The Park at Fourteenth. Brown will be held until court later today, since he is reported to be on probation and not eligible for release until seeing a judge, a source told ABC News.

ABC News obtained a police report filed by the alleged victim, identified as Isaac Adams Parker, 20, of Beltsville, Md. Parker said he tried to get into a picture that Brown was taking with two other unidentified individuals.

In the report, Parker said Brown hurled out a homophobic slur at him.

“I’m not down with that gay s***,” Brown allegedly said. “I feel like boxing.”

Brown then punched Parker in the face, the report added. The victim sustained swelling and bruises to his nose. Parker was transported to a local hospital.

Christopher Hollosy, reported to be Brown’s bodyguard, also punched Parker in the face, according to the police report. Hollosy, 35, was also charged with felony assault and both were being held until today’s court hearing.

Brown was partying earlier in the night at the club for a “Homecoming Weekend” party. ABC News affiliate WJLA reports Howard University was celebrating its homecoming, though a university spokeswoman said the party was not sponsored by or affiliated with the school.

Calls to reach Brown’s rep for comment were not immediately returned.

[From ABC News]

TMZ has been carrying water for Breezy, and they reported yesterday that Chris and his bodyguard were only trying to keep this guy (or was it two guys?) from getting on the tour bus. TMZ also reports today that in the first police report, there were some inconsistencies which were later corrected in a second police report, so perhaps Chris’s lawyers will use those inconsistencies to shout NOT GUILTY at everyone. It’s still not known if the victim punched back or exactly what happened. That being said, Chris is still going to be formally charged with felony assault and it’s still going to mess up his probation. He has a hearing on the books in California for November 20th. Please don’t say “nothing is going to happen.” Don’t do that to me! I want to believe Breezy will finally face some consequences.

UPDATE: Crap. TMZ reports that at Chris Brown’s court appearance today, his felony assault charge was downgraded to misdemeanor assault. Chris was released without bail and the judge threw out the order for Chris’s drug test too. So… will he still get in trouble in California because of his probation? Or will he get a Lohan-style gentle slap on the firecrotch?

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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48 Responses to “Chris Brown appeared in a DC court today, charges downgraded to misdemeanor (update)”

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  1. BreeinSEA says:

    Ohhh I hope he doesn’t walk. I would pay good money to see him behind bars. Everything about him makes me sick.

  2. QQ says:

    I think he’ll pay for the guy to go away Even though in my Christmas Heart I WISH for prison and rehab for this methface

    • blue marie says:

      I think you’re right

    • freya says:

      I thought when it’s a felony, it doesn’t matter if the victim drops the claim as long as they have eyewitnesses/evidence? Or did tv teach me wrong? Or does that differ from state to state as well?
      (I’m not American nor have I ever lived there)

      • Nono says:

        If it’s a crime (as opposed to a civil matter) it doesn’t matter whether the victim wants the case dropped; the state will prosecute the case if it has sufficient evidence that something of a criminal nature may have happened.

      • Mirna says:

        If the witness stops cooperating (usually because of a pay-off), there is very little the police can do to keep the case going forward.

  3. Dhavynia says:

    Some police reports need to be corrected per Supervisor’s request due to verbiage. It needs to be consistant with the charges but it does not mean its being altered or making up stuff so maybe that had to be done in this case. I don’t see the big deal on why it was changed and with that being said I hope he spends the time he deserves behind bars

  4. Sarah says:

    This guy …

    • Pandy says:

      Another strong candidate for the banned to a desert island, celebrity edition. So many worthy candidates!!

  5. Tiffany :) says:

    TMZ should know it doesn’t matter if the guy was trying to get on the tour bus (which I doubt, anyway). That doesn’t give you the right to assault someone!

    The good thing is that even if he isn’t convicted of assualt, this can still be considered a violation of his probation. I hope he faces consequences of SOME kind. Clearly the taps on the wrist haven’t changed his behavior, as he is still beating people at whim.

    • Nono says:

      Actually, depending on state/country law, that may well justify assault on the grounds of self defense, protection of property, etc.

      • Katherine says:

        It does not justify a punch in the nose. It would justify taking hold of an arm, for instance – an example of unwanted touching aka an assault – and escorting someone off the bus. But, no, “trying to get on the bus” is not going to work. It certainly won’t work for TWO punches in the nose.

        The judge didn’t require drug testing by her court system as Brown is already regularly monitored on probation and the judge isn’t going to make him come in from LA to weekly take a test. Anyway his cellblock test may have been clean thus not necessitating weekly testing. His co-defendant IS being tested though.

    • Kate says:

      there was a video of a fan trying to get on the hanson bus and the stalker creep fan spit on one of the hansons

  6. Hakura says:

    The *only* thing I’m concerned about… Is when someone asked the difference between ‘felony’ assault & usual yesterday, a response said that ‘breaking bones’ (as the victim was said to have a broken nose, requiring immediate surgery today) could make a difference.

    To hear that his bodyguard *also* punched the victim in the face… Couldn’t Chris’s lawyer try to argue that it *could* have been the *body guard’s* punch, that broke the guy’s nose? If it caused issue w/that… Since there were no weapons involved (the other aspect that can make assault a ‘felony’), could they not try to argue that the charge should be lowered to a misdemeanor? I mean, there’s the probation issue, so hopefully even then he’d still do some time, but it would affect how much… Or if a charge isn’t very strong, wouldn’t they consider not going to the trouble of adding him to already crowded prison, (especially given his celeb status, & the requirements that have to be used to protect him while incarcerated…?

    Plus, if they’re trying to say that ‘they were just trying to keep the guys from getting on the tour bus’ as TMZ seems to be shilling, they may be able to beat it, at least down to something petty. They could probably argue that *their* version of events makes more sense (than the guys just trying to photobomb them), bc the bodyguard got involved to the point of punching the guy. Would he usually do that,bas opposed to just trying to separate then, if Chris started the fight? I don’t know, but maybe they’d use his involvement in the physical altercation to try to convince people their ‘tour bus’ scenario is what happened, since the bodyguard would more likely go to the point of punching someone trying to get in a tour bus or through him to Chris.

    It’s such a mess. & I hope those supposed ‘inconsistencies’ in the report dont f!ck sh!t up. (You’d think they’d be especially thorough, dealing w/a celebrity). We’ve been waiting TOO LONG for this. F!ck a new computer, THIS is what I want for Xmas. >=(

    • kkhou says:

      I have not read DC law and am not speaking on any specifics in this case, but generally the difference between felony assault v. misdemeanor assault for criminal law purposes will be based on intent (did he intentionally or knowingly assault v. unintentional or negligence) and weapons/method used (ex. threats vs fists vs with a deadly weapon). The resulting injury isn’t as important, and it wouldn’t matter who threw the first punch or inflicted the most damage- if both punched with the same intent and method, both people get the charge. In many jurisdictions there are also multiple forms of felony assault. It could, however, matter in a civil suit when determining which person who punched the victim is responsible for what portion of damages (though Brown may be liable for actions his bodyguard makes while under his employment/instruction).

      As far as whether they were trying to prevent the victim from getting on the tour bus, the question would be is there a legal defense available that would accommodate that fact pattern.

      • Katherine says:

        The resultant injury matters very much when you have to decide whether to charge Felony Assault with Significant Injury or Felony Aggravated Assault versus Misdemeanor Assault. Unless it was an accident, whether you meant to cause the injury you caused is irrelevant. You meant to punch the guy – THAT is the intent that matters.

        In DC the government often charges misdemeanor assaults when the police bring them in initially as felonies even when there is enough evidence to go forward with a felony – it’s the prosecutors who decide when the charges are first filed in court. A HUGE reason for opting for a misdemeanor charge in DC is that now he only gets a bench trial – just a judge, no jury.

    • jwoolman says:

      Would he really need his own private little cell? Isn’t that up to the jurisdiction to decide if it’s necessary? Hulk Hogan’s kid was segregated in Florida only until he was 18, then he was in a cell with other guys close to his age and probably considered safe for the poor little fella. Of course, Chris would be a danger to the other guys…

      I think he could get a probation violation without a conviction. It’s up to the probation judge to decide. The evidence required for probation violation is not as stringent as for a criminal conviction. At least that was pointed out repeatedly during Lindsay Lohan’s many encounters with what must be every judge in the county by now.

  7. nicegirl says:

    I am originally from California and worked there as a legal assistant for several years. I expect he will have his probation violated due to the violent nature of his most recent alleged event.

    Here’s hoping.

  8. MARKWEER says:

    You can’t take this dude anywhere, can you?

  9. Ag says:

    HAHAHAHAHAHA!

    A-hole.

    HAHAHAHAHAHA!

  10. Mirna says:

    I commented below: I don’t think he’s going to prison, you guys. Lawyered up (of course) and now claiming that he was attempting to prevent a crime (trespass). Under any jurisdiction, you can use physical force to prevent a crime directed at you or your property (his tour bus). We all know this was concocted by his lawyers because it’s the only thing that could get him off, but it may actually work.

    Now, with the inconsistencies in the report, I bet he walks. He always seems to catch a lucky break, doesn’t he?

    • kkhou says:

      You may be right that he will walk. Never underestimate the power of a good lawyer and lots of money. However, isn’t it true that force used to protect property in *most* jurisdictions would have to be “reasonable”? Again, I don’t know DC law, but I would be really curious to know if anyone here does.

  11. janie says:

    I just read that now the bodyguard “threw” the first punch, not Choirboy Chris? Well, that was interesting speculating what might have been?!

  12. Madriani's Girl says:

    Too bad Lohan is still getting away with her own crack shenanigans.

  13. BeckyR says:

    Howard must be so proud. He deserves prison time with hardened criminals who could teach him a few things.

  14. Kerrboom says:

    I can’t stand Chris Brown. I hope the judge throws the book at him.

  15. Liza Jane says:

    Ugh! This complete idiot gets away with everything he does, like any celebrity who’s fans still fawn over them and who’s behaviour is consistently anti social, wilful and entitled! Don’t hold your breath on this one!

  16. lucy2 says:

    Seems like a pretty clear violation of his parole. And not for something minor, but felony assault – that does not look good when you’re on probation for a violent crime, and trying to convince the judge you’ve changed.

    If the guys were trying to get on the tour bus, wouldn’t the security guard just remove them? Why should CB have been involved at all? Sounds more like they aren’t professional security, and probably just some awful friends of his he pays to party with him.

    • Mirna says:

      Sounds to me like Chris Brown was true to form and hauled off and hit the guy (probably for the photobomb and NOT for trying to enter the bus). THEN the security guard jumped in. Now the security guard (and Chris Brown) are massaging the facts to make it seem like the guy was attempting to trespass and Chris acted “reasonably” in trying to stop him.

  17. truetalk says:

    Douchebag is going to walk as usual because his mgt made the good decision of retaining a veeeeerrrry good lawyer.

  18. Axis2ClusterB says:

    He’s so freaking gross. What a human being.

  19. aquarius64 says:

    Dollar bet Brown throws his bodyguard under the tour bus to get out of this legal scrape.

  20. Barbara says:

    We can all take some joy that at least he spent the night in jail….which I don’t think he has ever had to do.

  21. Anne says:

    I hope DC makes him do actual time, not like the California “lolwat” justice system. Even if California declares his probation violated, he’d probably just get an extra month of community service. Hell, I wish he’d try this crap in Texas. That might be fun.

  22. Theresa says:

    What a mess this guy is. He looks sick, acts like an animal, probably abusing drugs and alcohol regularly.

    I don’t mistake any of his lifestyle as signifying success in any sense of the word. The fact that he escapes doing hard time in jail/prison doesn’t mean he’s living free and clear. He spends a lot of time fretting what the public thinks of him, and the fact that he has such a hair trigger temper, it’s just a matter of time before he messes with the wrong guy(s) and someone might just mess him up back a lot worse than he has ever dished out.

    I usually take comfort with a “celebrity” that abuses their fame/influence/affluence in such a way by knowing they will eventually be left behind as our interest shifts elsewhere. There is no way he will have a sustainable career, either recording or performing, he is weak at best, and will be soon dismissed as he ages. All he’ll be is a “where are they now” cautionary tale.

    The energy he expends defending himself, it looks like it’s taking a toll. Some people, even surrounded by the trappings of fame and success, are very unhappy and self-destructive. He strikes me as suffering from a lot of issues, and left unattended, he is on a path to tragedy. Not a life anyone should envy.

    Doubtful that even punishment would bring meaningful change. Not sure where a guy like CB’s rock bottom is. Not with such an enabling and sycophantic industry propping him up.

  23. SimplyRed says:

    It has been proven via the police report that are discrepancies but both states it was his bodyguard that broke dude nose. If that dude try to get on the tour bus without permission then bodyguard did his job.

    I don’t condone violence but if someone tries to get in my car or my property without permission and I don’t know you shoot, I’m definitely using deadly force to get off and away.

    I’m only saying this based on the information printed on the 2 or more police reports

  24. Kim1 says:

    Charges reduced to misdemeanor assault no bail no drug test.

  25. JS says:

    I wish he would do jail time in DC and get his ass beat. He needs a good beat down from someone. What a punk. I know that’s a terrible thing to say but it’s true.

  26. msw says:

    Don’t lose hope. Maybe it will be easier to convict on a misdemeanor and he’ll be in violation of his parole. It doesn’t sound like they dropped the charges, they just reduced them. I think a conviction would still violate his probation.

    I feel so evil rooting for someone to do time, but I really want this dude reality checked.

  27. Kimble says:

    He’ll skate…

  28. teehee says:

    I am truly disappointed, BUT- I think I can see why this happened- it’s a situation where the person tried to enter the property of another person, and doesn’t a person have the right to defend himself and his property against invasion? The fan acted wrongly, and despite the fact that Chris is a violent child, the body guard had a responsibility of sorts to do what he did. In that sense also, Chris had NO responsibility to do what he did. He could have left it to the hired staff whose job it is to resort to all kinds of odd behavior in the name of a celeb.
    We’re upset at the fact that Chris was violent- again- but the context is making it too easy for him to get away with it, even when he had no reason to be that way. Sadly it makes too much sense to excuse his action even in the eyes of the law and let him get off easy.

  29. Hakura says:

    But had anyone proven that it *was* an issue of the fans acting wrongly, & trying to get on the bus, as opposed to the first story, saying the guys were trying to get in a photo he was taking?

    I haven’t read up on it today, but I’m just not sure if they even figured out what happened yet.