ATLANTA — A Northern Georgia District judge sentenced T.I. to one year and one day in prison on felony weapons charges Friday (March 27), calling the rapper’s plea deal “experimental” but a success.

Judge Charles Pannell Jr. told the rapper he had more than exceeded the court’s expectations, and he hoped his case would inspire similar plea deals.

As a part of the plea deal T.I. (real name: Clifford Harris) struck last March, the year-and-a-day sentence was expected. The rapper is also required to complete 1,000 hours of community service before turning himself in, and another 500 hours after completing his sentence. He also must pay a $100,000 fine.

Tip is scheduled to report to prison voluntarily within the next six to eight weeks. However, the judge acknowledged that the rapper has agreed-upon commitments what will not allow him to enter prison before May 19.

T.I., in a charcoal-grey suit and matching black dress shirt and tie, delivered a sober speech to the judge. His 10-minute speech details his misguided youth, the death of his best friend Philant Johnson in 2006, and his desire to use his mistakes for a positive end.

Since the release of reports that Rihanna and Chris Brown have reunited, this took place at P Diddy’s Beach House in Miami, as began to anger a lot of Rihanna’s female fans and industry insiders such as Oprah Winfrey and former Manhattan sex-crimes prosecutor Linda Fairstein.

Oprah Winfrey: “If a man hits you once, he will hit you again. He will hit you again.”

She also went on to say that, she would dedicate a program about the situation on her next show - Domestic Violence.

“I want to do a show about it, dedicated to all the Rihannas of the world.”

The former Manhattan sex-crimes prosecutor Linda Fairstein went as far as to compare the Chris Brown, Rihanna’s saga to O.J. Simpson’s case.

“Many of the circumstances in her case were like the early warning signs in the O.J. Simpson case,” Fairstein said.

She also mentioned the fact that Chris Brown choked Rihanna while saying, “Now I’m really going to kill you” is a particularly bad sign.

“Choking behavior is a very interesting factor. It’s hands on, face-to-face. It’s a very intimate type of violence,” she said.

Source: http://www.outaroad.com/2009/03/chris_brown_will_hit_you_again.html

In news that is likely to cause much head-shaking and concern, Rihanna has apparently reunited with Chris Brown, who allegedly assaulted her on Feb. 8. People reports the pair is currently “spending time” at a home owned by Diddy in an undisclosed location.

“They’re together again. They care for each other,” a source tells the magazine, before unsettlingly adding, “While Chris is reflective and saddened about what happened, he is really happy to be with the woman he loves.”

Brown, 19, supposedly reached out to Rihanna last Friday as she marked her 21st birthday, an occasion she celebrated with friends during a beach getaway to Punta Mita, Mexico, over the weekend.

“He called to wish her happy birthday,” an insider relays to the mag. “They’ve reached out to each other. It’s been mutual.”

Brown, who was booked for making criminal threats following the incident, remains under investigation by the Los Angeles police department.

According to the New York Daily News, the R&B singer recently attended his first anger-management session, a move seemingly designed to burnish his tarnished image.

“Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired,” Brown said a week after the purported altercation. “I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God’s help, to emerging a better person.”

Rihanna has yet to comment on the incident, despite a disturbing picture of her bruised and battered face leaking online last week.

In a statement, her rep assured fans that “she remains strong, is doing well, and deeply appreciates the outpouring of support she has received during this difficult time.”

Source: http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=354773&GT1=28102

A very disturbing photo of superstar Rihanna’s battered face has been leaked to the public via entertainment website TMZ.com.

Now that the photo is released, industry insiders and fans are now wondering if Chris Brown will indeed face criminal charges.

However according ABC News legal analyst Dana Cole, “If there’s just swelling then Chris Brown may get away with simply being charged as a misdemeanor. If that picture does in fact depict broken bones, facial fractures, contusions, then he’s looking at a felony and probable jail time.”

Who leaked the photo?

According to reports, only the cops who were on the scene took photos of Rihanna’s injuries so the photo could have only been leaked to the public by someone of that police division. An internal investigation has now been launched by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Grammy day was supposed to be a glittery affair for R&B’s reigning It couple, Chris Brown and Rihanna. But things went horribly amiss.

About the time Brown was scheduled to be singing “Forever” onstage at Los Angeles’ Staples Center, he was instead detained by police, being questioned for allegedly roughing up Rihanna.

Brown, 19, turned himself in at the LAPD’s Wilshire station around 6:30 p.m. and was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of four years. The case will now be sent to the district attorney’s office and further charges could be filed. He was released from jail after posting $50,000 bail.

“He was very professional and didn’t appear to have injuries,” said Sgt. Bridget Pickett, adding, “he’s a good looking young man.”

While Brown appeared unscathed, sources tell E! News that the alleged victim was Rihanna, 20, and that she suffered visible bruises on her face during an early morning confrontation. Both in turn balked at scheduled Grammy appearances.

A spokeswoman for Brown’s label declined comment and calls to his attorney, Mark Geragos, weren’t immediately returned.

Meanwhile, Rihanna’s publicist, Amanda Silverman, said the “Disturbia” singer ”is well. Thank you for concern and support.”

Per department policy, police declined to identify the alleged victim in the incident, which occurred about 12:30 a.m. in the Hancock Park area, apparently as the two were heading home from Clive Davis‘ annual pre-Grammy bash, where they had been all smiles.

In a statement, police say Brown and his companion ”became involved in an argument. After stopping his car, Brown and the woman got out and the argument escalated. The woman suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker.”

By the time officers arrived on the scene, Brown had split.

Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, decided against singing a medley of “Disturbia” and “Live Your Life” at tonight’s awards. Likewise, Brown scrapped his scheduled performance of “Forever.”

“We’re sorry she is unable to join us this evening,” said the Recording Academy. A virtually identical statement was issued for Brown’s absence.

Brown and Rihanna were up for dueling Pop Collaboration With Vocals awards, Brown for his duet with Jordin Sparks on “No Air,” Rihanna with Maroon 5 for “If I Never See Your Face Again.” Brown was also contending for Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Take You Down.” Neither Brown nor Rihanna won anything.

After the ceremony, Recording Academy President Neal Portnoy told E! News that he first learned of the situation “pretty late in the afternoon,” about three hours before showtime.

“Musicians are no different than anybody else. I’m not judging. I’m sorriest that they weren’t there for their moments on stage,” he said, adding that he’s never had to deal with replacing two segments at the last minute.

“I’m hoping that [the awards are] the story and should not be ecliped by this part of business,” Portnoy said. “I think the story is…the music that went on stage.”

Backstage, Anthony Hamilton, winner of the Traditional R&B Vocal Grammy with Al Green, said his pal was pressed into emergency service “about an hour and a half before the preshow.”

Green crooned “Let’s Stay Together” with assists from Justin Timberlake and Keith Urban.

Asked if old-pro Green really was able to  take the stage on such short notice, Hamilton suggested the R&B icon was practicing last night.

Said Hamilton, “He knew something could happen.”

Source: www.eonline.com