Chris Brown rejects plea deal in DC assault case

In this Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013, file photo, singer Chris Brown arrives at court for a probation review hearing , in Los Angeles. AP FILE PHOTO

WASHINGTON – Lawyers for singer Chris Brown told a judge Wednesday that he has rejected a plea deal on a charge that he hit a man outside a Washington hotel.

Prosecutors had offered a deal in which Brown would plead guilty to the misdemeanor assault charge he faces. One of Brown’s lawyers, Danny Onorato, said outside of court that attorneys rejected the deal because Brown is not guilty.

Brown’s lawyers said in court that they expect a trial date to be set at another hearing, scheduled for Feb. 20. Brown did not speak during the hearing, which lasted less than 10 minutes. He wore a charcoal three-piece suit and had dark hair, not the bleached blond hair he had sported when he was arrested in October along with his bodyguard, Christopher Hollosy, who also faces an assault charge.

The R&B singer was arrested after a man said the singer struck him outside the W Hotel when he tried to get in a picture Brown was taking with two other people. Hollosy is also accused of striking the man, and his lawyer said he rejected the same deal that Brown was offered.

Prosecutors said in court they will be turning over substantial video surveillance shortly but did not say what it shows.

At the time Brown was charged in Washington, the Grammy winner was on probation in California for a 2009 attack on singer Rihanna, his then-girlfriend. As a result of the new charge, a judge in December revoked Brown’s probation in California, but the ruling didn’t alter a requirement that Brown complete rehab and community service including roadside clean-up and graffiti removal.

Brown has to return to court in California Feb. 10 for an update on his progress in rehab.

Mark Geragos, the lawyer who is representing Brown in the California case, took part in the hearing in Washington. Geragos said that Brown’s lawyers plan to ask that he not have to appear at the Feb. 20 hearing in Washington because he loses three days of treatment by making the trip.

Originally posted: January 9, 2014 | 9:09 am