The Chrihanna Chronicles: Felony Charges Handed Down for Chris Brown

If Chris Brown thought that taking anger management classes and reconciling with Rihanna would keep him out of jail, he'd better think again. This morning, prosecutors in Los Angeles charged the 19-year-old with felony assault and making criminal threats for allegedly beating up his Good Girl Gone Bad. Those charges could get him anywhere from probation to almost five years in the slammer. Chris has been free on 50-thousand dollars bail, but he'll be arraigned on the charges this afternoon in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Brown was arrested on February 8th after LAPD officers responded to a 911 call reporting an assault in the Hancock Park area of town. When cops arrived at the scene, they found a beat-down Rihanna, Brown's rented Lamborghini, but no Chris. He turned himself in later that day and was booked for suspicion of criminal threats.

According to the search warrant, the beat down began when "Robyn F." (Rihanna's real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty) read Chris a text message during the drive home from Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party in Beverly Hills. Even though we don't know what was in the message, we do know that it made Chris mad. He tried to force her out of the car and the only that saved her was the seat belt she was wearing. He proceeded to punch her several times while he was driving, splattering the interior of the luxury vehicle with blood.

In the midst of the attack, Rihanna got her assistant on the phone and told her to call the cops. Meanwhile, Chris continued his reign of terror, biting her and ear and fingers and, at one point, threatening to kill her.

Rihanna was treated at a medical facility after the incident. A few days later, TMZ.com published a post beat-down picture of the 21-year-old. Meanwhile, after surrendering to police, Chris issued a statement apologizing for the incident.

***UPDATE***

At this afternoon's arraignment, Chris Brown didn't enter a plea to the charges. Instead, TMZ.com reported that he and his attorney, Mark Geragos, asked to move the proceedings to Monday, April 6th. Sources are speculating that the reason they want to postpone the case is to conduct further investigations or possibly strike a plea deal.

During the hearing -- which lasted a little under five minutes -- Brown signed a waiver of presence. That means that he's not required to show up for any minor proceedings that can be handled by his lawyer before April 6th. He only spoke four words the whole time -- "yes," "yes," and "yes ma'am."

After Brown's request to continue case had been granted, the judge warned him, "You are not to annoy, harass, molest, threaten or use force or violence against anyone." The judge then turned to Donald Etra, Rihanna's lawyer, and asked if there was a "no-contact order" in place. Etra replied, "Miss Fenty [Rihanna] does not request such an order."

Stay tuned...