Chris Brown is now a convicted felon.
After striking a plea agreement that keeps him from doing jail time, the popular R&B crooner must perform 180 hours of community labor, attend a domestic-abuse program and serve five years prChris Brown Run Itobation.
The felony assault and criminal threat charges stem from an incident between Brown and then-girlfriend Rihanna, which left the Barbados-born singer battered and bruised on the eve of the Grammy Awards in February.
It might seem as if Brown is getting a slap on the wrist, but the Virginia resident isn't quite getting off easy. The charges against the 20-year-old are felony, not misdemeanor. And though, a felon status and Brown's admission of guilt could serve to restrict some of his civil liberties, in the near future, it looks like not going to jail will keep him from having to comply with the tough parolee restrictions.
Although his case was heard in California, Brown is a resident of Virginia, a state that revokes a felon's right to vote.
Most felons in the commonwealth can apply to have their voting rights restored three years after completing their sentence. However, parolees with violent felonies, drug sales and electoral offenses must wait five years before seeking restoration. In Brown's case, he won't be a parolee since he does not have a jail sentence, however, his offense was violent, making it unclear how long he'll have to wait.
"In many respects, his legal outcome is more fitting as a celebrity over that of thousands of black men in their twenties who have to face similar punishment," says David Troutt, a law professor at Rutgers Law School in Newark, N.J.
Troutt, a Harvard-educated author of several publications involving race and justice, including 'The Importance of Being Dangerous,' believes that Brown won't face felony disenfranchisement.
"A lot of felons in a lot of states cannot get a driver's license, and most employers don't want to hire a felon," Troutt said. "So if you come from a poor neighborhood, having experienced little opportunities and go to jail, serve real time and come back into that same community that is bereft of resources, chances are, as a result of your status as an ex-con, you are facing financial circumstances you cannot overcome."
According to Troutt , Brown's probation status will still allow him voting rights, the ability to serve on juries, hold public office or "if he wanted to start a foundation, becoming the recipient of a public grant."
Ultimately, Brown's criminal conduct could work to increase his popularity and notoriety. Already, a previously unreleased single, 'Not My Fault,' hit the Web shortly after his plea deal was announced. N.E.R.D.'s Pharrell Williams has said that the material he has produced for Brown's upcoming album, 'Graffiti,' so far is impressive.
"The fact that he is essentially self-employed, what's available to him are privately made and held opportunities, and he can go outside the system of public scrutiny and punishment and parlay these sorts of things into greater opportunities," Trout added.
Other conditions of Brown's sentence require him to stay at least 50 yards away from Rihanna unless the estranged couple are at the same industry event, in which case, Brown is required to keep a distance of 10 feet.
Brown cannot contact the Covergirl spokesmodel at any time during his five-year probationary period.
Only time will tell whether Brown can overcome his trouble with the law and make a career comeback.
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