Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty in L.A. Court

Rihanna's attorney says she hoped for a plea bargain, but would testify against Brown if required

Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty this afternoon to the two felony counts related to his alleged beatdown of girlfriend and fellow R&B-singer Rihanna two months ago.

He appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom wearing a black button-down sweater alongside his lawyer Mark Geragos and quietly said "not guilty" twice as his mother sat in the front row red-eyed. There was no discussion of any plea deals or other arrangements with prosecutors. 

Brown and his attorney waved the right to a preliminary hearing and will have to appear in court again on April 29.

The "Forever" singer was charged in March by Los Angeles County prosecutors with felony assault likely to cause great bodily injury and making criminal threats after he allegedly hit and choked Rihanna as they fought in a rented Lamborghini in the wee hours of the morning before the Grammys on Sunday Feb. 8.

Reports earlier today said the crooner's attorneys were working on a plea deal aimed at keeping Brown, 19, out of jail.

"It's expected to be resolved at some point soon," a source had told the New York Daily News. "Rihanna wants it resolved as well."

Neither the judge, nor Brown nor his lawyer showed any hints of any type of deal in court today.

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Meanwhile Rihanna is back in her native Barbados celebrating her grandparents 50th anniversary. She is hoping to get as “far away from the case as possible,” the gossip site TMZ reported.

Her distance could work in Brown’s favor, as she would be a key witness in any case against her estranged boyfriend.
 
"She has no interest in testifying," a source told The News
 
But her lawyer Donald Etra told reporters after the hearing that even though Rihanna hoped for a plea bargain she would testify against Brown if required, Reuters reported
 
 
 
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