The singer entered an
in-patient rehabilitation center last month, a day after he was released
from a Washington, D.C. jail following his arrest on an assault charge.
When Brown entered the
rehab program on October 28, Perna said, "His goal is to gain focus and
insight into his past and recent behavior, enabling him to continue the
pursuit of his life and his career from a healthier vantage point."
"Chris is continuing his
rehab program as an outpatient and is also completing his community
service in the Los Angeles area," rep Nicole Perna said Thursday. "He
appreciates all of your encouragement and support."
Brown must complete 1,000
hours of community labor in Los Angeles as part of his punishment for
beating former girlfriend Rihanna on the eve of the Grammys in February
2009.
The behavior that has landed Brown, 24, in legal trouble over the past several years has been anger management.
His arrest on a sidewalk
near the White House on October 27 put Brown on a path toward a possible
prison sentence because of his California probation. The U.S. attorney
in the District of Columbia charged Brown and his bodyguard with simple assault for a brawl last month in which a 20-year-old Maryland man suffered a broken nose.
The Rihanna incident resulted in a felony domestic violence conviction that carried a lengthy probation period.
A judge found Brown in
violation of that probation in August because of discrepancies in
proving he fulfilled the court-ordered 1,400 hours of community labor.
He imposed another 1,000 hours of work.
Brown is in a vulnerable
position. The Los Angeles judge overseeing his felony probation could
order him to complete as many as four years in prison for the beating of
Rihanna if he is found in violation of probation.
Secret Service report could help Chris Brown's defense
Brown is due in a Los
Angeles court on November 20 for a probation status hearing. Prosecutors
are waiting on the probation officer's report due next week to decide
whether they will seek to put him behind bars, a spokeswoman said.
The Los Angeles County
District Attorney's Office appears in no mood to cut Brown any breaks,
which suggests that prosecutors will ask for jail time for him because
of the arrest in Washington.
The probation officer's
job is to prepare a report for the Los Angeles judge. While the simple
assault charge is a misdemeanor, it could trigger a probation
revocation.
Going to rehab -- as his
rep said "to gain focus and insight into his past and recent behavior"
-- could allow Brown lawyer Mark Geragos to argue that the entertainer
is getting proper help for his core problem.
The statement from
Brown's rep did not disclose where the singer is going for rehab or what
might be a "healthier vantage point" for him.
Rihanna and Chris Brown's relationship through the years
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