Frederick M. Brown/Getty ImagesA judge has agreed that Chris Brown doesn't need to be in jail. (Or not right now, at least.)
At a hearing earlier today, attorney Mark Geragos successfully argued against the L.A. County District Attorney's motion that Brown be locked up in light of a new wrinkle in his pending assault case in Washington, D.C. Prosecutors said that they have identified witnesses to interview and will be able to prove that he violated his probation stemming from his 2009 assault on Rihanna.
Geragos said that his client, who had his probation revoked on Dec. 16, is "making great strides" in his program and didn't deserve to have that progress halted. Brown was ordered on Nov. 20 to spend three months at a residential treatment center.
Brown has completed 109 hours of community service and his last four drug tests came back negative, according to Geragos.
The 24-year-old R&B star, his hair back to its usual color, was wearing a button-down blue shirt, jeans, a brown blazer and his usual diamond studs in court, where he said little. He was accompanied by his mother, Joyce Hawkins, and on-again girlfriend Karrueche Tran.
"I say keep things on a short leash," Geragos advised the court. "Keep him where he is now."
"He is making great strides and all you have to do is look at him, and I've known him for five years," the lawyer added. "He's as good as he's ever been."
L.A. Superior Court Judge James Brandlin apparently agreed, but reminded Brown to comply with all the rules set forth by the court, including the order to take his prescription medications and abstain from medical marijuana. A probation-violation setting report hearing was scheduled for Feb. 28.
Meanwhile, Brown and one of his bodyguards rejected a plea deal in the D.C. case, with attorney Danny Onorato telling reporters that Brown turned down a deal because he wasn't guilty. The "Run It" singer is accused of punching a guy who tried to photobomb Brown and a couple of female fans.
Brown is required to appear at a hearing in D.C. on Feb. 20.
—Reporting by Claudia Rosenbaum