As the pretrial of the Jive Records crooner—who faces two felony charges of assault after allegedly beating his estranged girlfriend, Rihanna, on February 8 begins—ESSENCE.com takes a look at other high-profile celebrity cases throughout the years.
Chris Brown’s Lawyer Mark Geragos: ‘I Fight for the Underdog’ »
Surrounded by police officers, rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs leaves the state Supreme Court in New York City in 2001. Combs was aquitted of weapons and bribery charges stemming from a New York nightclub shooting in December 1999.
Chris Brown’s Lawyer Mark Geragos: ‘I Fight for the Underdog’ »
Back in 2007, Altanta Falcons star Michael Vick admitted to hanging, drowning and suffocating canines that didn’t perform well in dogfights he financially supported. He was released last month after serving 18 months for the crime.
Chris Brown’s Lawyer Mark Geragos: ‘I Fight for the Underdog’ »
Three-time gold and two-time bronze medalist was convicted for her steroid use and stripped of her medals.
Chris Brown’s Lawyer Mark Geragos: ‘I Fight for the Underdog’ »
Megastar athlete Kobe Bryant, who last week won his fourth NBA title, was charged with the raping of a 19-year-old White woman in 2003. The charges were eventually dropped after the alleged victim refused to cooperate with police.
Chris Brown’s Lawyer Mark Geragos: ‘I Fight for the Underdog’ »
Bobby Brown and ex-wife Whitney Houston leave the Dekalb County Courthouse for a traffic violations hearing after charges to dismiss the case were denied in 2002.
Chris Brown’s Lawyer Mark Geragos: ‘I Fight for the Underdog’ »
The Juice enjoyed a storybook career in college and pro football, but faced murder charges in his ex-wife’s brutal death. He was later acquitted. Ironically, he’s serving a 33-year sentence after being convicted of organizing a botched robbery at a Vegas hotel.
Chris Brown’s Lawyer Mark Geragos: ‘I Fight for the Underdog’ »
The former heavyweight champion of the world spent three years in an Indiana prison after a beauty pageant contestant accused him of rape. In his self-titled documentary the prized fighter still claims his innocence.
Chris Brown’s Lawyer Mark Geragos: ‘I Fight for the Underdog’ »
The former hoops star accidentally shot his driver and tried to cover up the shooting. A jury acquitted him of aggravated manslaughter. Recently the ex-Nets star was found “suicidal” this past April when police found him in a New York hotel room. “Tell my mother I love her,” he scribbled on the hotel wall.
Chris Brown’s Lawyer Mark Geragos: ‘I Fight for the Underdog’ »
A year after she had to attend anger management classes and complete five days of community service for throwing a cell phone at her housekeeper, the supermodel arrives at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on June 2008, in Uxbridge, England, to face charges of assaulting two police officers at Heathrow Airport.
Chris Brown’s Lawyer Mark Geragos: ‘I Fight for the Underdog’ »
Michael Jackson arrives at Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Santa Maria, California, with his attorney Thomas Mesereau, Jr., during his child molestation trial in 2004. He was eventually found not guilty.
Chris Brown’s Lawyer Mark Geragos: ‘I Fight for the Underdog’ »
The rap mogul was charged with vandalism, battery and grand theft after a tussle with the paparazzi in LAX airport in 2008. In April of 2009, West won a delay for his arraignment for allegedly smashing a photographer’s gear.
Chris Brown’s Lawyer Mark Geragos: ‘I Fight for the Underdog’ »
In 2007, rapper Foxy Brown served one year in jail after throwing a cell phone after fighting her over the volume in her car. She also received three years probation and anger management courses after getting into a fight at a nail salon in 2006.
Chris Brown’s Lawyer Mark Geragos: ‘I Fight for the Underdog’ »
The diminutive rapper is flanked by lawyer Mel Sachs, left, and security as she departs the Manhattan Federal Court after her sentencing hearing on July 6, 2005. Grammy-winning rapper Lil’ Kim was sentenced to one year and a day in jail after lying to a grand jury regarding a shooting outside of a New York radio station and was fined $50,000.
Chris Brown’s Lawyer Mark Geragos: ‘I Fight for the Underdog’ »
In 2008, the R&B singer leaves the Cook County courthouse where the jury selection was underway for his child pornography trial in Chicago. He was acquitted of all 14 counts.
Chris Brown’s Lawyer Mark Geragos: ‘I Fight for the Underdog’ »
Rap artist Clifford “T.I.” Harris addressed the media after his sentencing hearing at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building and United States Courthouse on March 27, 2009, in Atlanta. T.I. was sentenced to a year and a day for illegal gun possession. He began his sentence last month.
Chris Brown’s Lawyer Mark Geragos: ‘I Fight for the Underdog’ »
