Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty in Rihanna Assault Case

Chris Brown had his day in court to face two felony charges of making criminal threats and assault. The 19-year-old singer pleaded not guilty in a Los Angeles courtroom Monday stemming from the alleged Feb. 8 beating of his girlfriend, pop diva Rihanna. The singer dressed in a dark suit stated "Not guilty your honor," when asked how he would plea. His mother sat in the front row of the courtroom, her eyes red from tears.

Rihanna did not appear in court, but her lawyer Donald Etra was present. "What happened today was that Chris Brown entered a not guilty plea to both of the felony counts against him," Etra said to reporters after the hearing. "Rihanna's position in this case remains the same, mainly she will do everything that the law requires her to do," he said when asked what role the 21-year-old singer will play in the case.

Etra went on to say that both parties are attempting to resolve the case "expeditiously and fairly" but fended off personal questions regarding his client. "It's not my role to discuss her personal relationship," he said.

Rihanna and Chris Brown Pictures

Singers Rihanna and Chris Brown attend the 2009 GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons honoring Clive Davis at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 7, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California.

Lester Cohen, WireImage

Singers Rihanna and Chris Brown perform at Madison Square Garden in New York. Rihanna and Brown were last minute absences at the Grammy Awards Sunday Feb. 8, 2009.

Evan Agostini/file, AP

Singer Chris Brown and Singer Rihanna at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards at Paramount Pictures Studios on September 7, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Jeff Kravitz, FilmMagic

Rihanna and Chris Brownperform at the B96 Jingle Bash at theAllstate ArenaChicago, IL - 16.12.08

C.M. Wiggins, WENN

Rihanna and Chris Brown party together in Paris at club "Palais M" after her appearance on TV show "Star Academy." December 19, 2008 Paris, France

Bauer-Griffin

Rihanna and Chris Brown performing during the Y100 Jingle Ball Concert held at the Bank Atlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.December 13, 2008

Sozufe Adeleri, Retna

Singer Rihanna and boyfriend Chris Brown hit up the shops in Paris for some last-minute Christmas shopping Rihanna is in "The City of Lights" for her scheduled appearances on the talent show, "Star Academy." December 18, 2008 Paris, France

Bauer-Griffin

Chris Brown and Rihanna arrive at Miami International Airport on December 13, 2008 in Miami, Florida

Miguel Garcia, WireImage

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Brown's attorney Geragos hopes to reach a plea deal will the prosecution that will not allow Brown to serve jail time. The young star faces up to four years in prison if convicted on both charges.

Brown first turned himself in to authorities on February 8, hours after the alleged altercation. He was later released on $50,000 bail and both he and Rihanna missed scheduled appearances at this year's Grammy awards. Although the couple has since reconciled, in the past few weeks Brown has been out of the spotlight emerging last month to at a girl's college basketball game during their schools violence against women awareness campaign. Rihanna is back in her native Barbados with friends and family.

The singer is due back in court April 29.

Filed Under: Chris Brown, Rihanna

Categories: Busted, R&B