Singer Chris Brown stood before a judge Thursday on felony assault charges, but his arraignment was delayed until next month at the request of his lawyer.
Chris Brown attends his arraignment in Los Angeles on Thursday. Attorney Mark Geragos is at right.
After Brown signed a document waiving his right to a speedy trial, Los Angeles County Judge Kristi Lousteau ordered him to return to court on April 6 for formal arraignment.
The lawyer for singer Rihanna, the girlfriend Brown is accused of assaulting, stood near Brown and the two shook hands and talked at the end of the brief hearing. Rihanna was not in the courtroom.
Brown allegedly attacked Rihanna, 21, during an argument in the early morning of February 8 that began when she found a certain text message on his cell phone, according to a sworn police statement.
The two were scheduled to perform at the Grammys that evening.
Authorities charged Brown, 19, on Thursday with felony counts of assault and making criminal threats, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said. If he is convicted, the sentence could range from probation to four years and eight months in prison, the office said.
The text message on Brown's phone was from "a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with," according to a sworn police statement.
