Back in Los Angeles court this week, R&B star Chris Brown pleaded not guilty to the charge that he physically abused his off-and-on girlfriend, pop star Rihanna. Arraigned in Los Angeles Superior Court, neither the 19-year-old Brown nor his attorney spoke to the press. After the hearing, Rihanna's attorney told reporters the 21-year-old singer hopes Brown, with whom she is still involved, will be able to reach a plea bargain with the Los Angeles prosecutor's office. Brown will be back in court later this month for a status hearing. If convicted, Brown could face up to four years in prison.
Since the reported February attack, photos of a bruised and battered Rihanna have circulated on celebrity gossip websites, along with reports of the couple's off-and-on love affair, a tearful apology by Brown, and even rumors of a secret wedding. Police reports indicate that Brown shoved Rihanna's head against the window of his rented Lamborghini during a roadside argument last winter, punching her in the face repeatedly while yelling, "I'm going to kill you."
Brown faces potentially harsh consequences for his actions. In California, assault and battery can not only result in felony charges but conviction can count as a strike under the state's harsh Three Strikes Law, warns expert Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Stephen Rodriguez. While domestic violence most often happens behind closed doors, Brown and Rihanna's celebrity status has pushed the issue into the media spotlight. Most of the victims of domestic violence are women. Domestic violence accounts for the majority of emergency room care provided to women in the U.S. More than 32% of Americans know someone who has been a victim of domestic violence. More than 50% of female victims never come forward and 25% are repeat victims, complicating prosecution and defense. However, once domestic violence charges are filed, Rodriguez said, "it is very difficult to get the charges dropped;" even if the victim wants to, as it appears Rihanna does.
What many couples don't understand is that once an arrest is made the prosecutor takes over the case. Rodriguez explained, "When this happens, even if the victim wants to forgive and forget, the victim is simply a witness and must take a back seat while the prosecutor moves ahead with the criminal case." In such cases, as with Brown and Rihanna, the skill and legal knowledge of an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney like Stephen Rodriguez is needed to defend against charges of domestic violence and assault.
