Chris Brown cops a felony plea

In what was probably a very wise legal decision, Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to felony assault in exchange for probation, thus keeping the rapper from a lengthy trial and the American public from juicy details about what happened between him and Rihanna that fateful Grammy eve.

Brown’s lawyer Mark Geragos announced that a deal had been struck just minutes before a preliminary hearing was set to start in a Los Angeles courtroom today. Brown could have faced up to four years in prison for felony charges of assault and making criminal threats, but as part of the deal will not serve any jail time.

Instead, he was sentenced to five years probation and 180 hours of community service, which he may be allowed to serve in his home state of Virginia.

If Brown violates his probation, he’ll have to serve the maximum four years. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg also issued a protective stay-away order, preventing Brown from coming within 50 yards of his ex unless they are required to be at the same event, in which he case, he cannot come within 10 yards of her. He’s also banned from having any phone or e-mail contact with her.

And so ends the last five months of go-to gossip. Until Brown gets another girlfriend.