R&B star Chris Brown was charged on Thursday with felony assault and making criminal threats in what prosecutors claim was a pre-Grammy assault on his fellow singer girlfriend Rihanna.

 

The 19-year-old musician appeared for a split second in Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday but did not enter a plea to the charges. Moreover, his arraignment was postponed to April 6.

 

Dressed in a gray suit and wearing a white shirt and tie, the famous artist exposed an impassive attitude, uttering only “Yes ma’am” to the judge, who issued an order impeding Chris Brown from “harassing, threatening or using force” against any person. However, he was not requested to abstain from having contact with Rihanna, with whom he has allegedly reunited.

 

According to Los Angeles prosecutors, Chris Brown attacked 21-year-old Rihanna late on the night prior to the February 8 Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. The R&B singer faces up to four years in prison if convicted. Nevertheless, it remained unclear whether the “Umbrella” performer, who was not present in court on Thursday, would testify against her boyfriend.

 

Both stars canceled scheduled performances at the Grammys this year, while Rihanna’s violently bruised and battered face was posted on cyber space by celebrity gossip Web site TMZ.com.

 

The Barbados-born beauty, whose entire name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, is identified in the complaint only as “Robyn F.” The singer had not been previously pointed by the police as being the victim of the alleged assault.

 

The formal charges accuse Chris Brown of attacking Rihanna “by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury” and threatening to commit a serious crime “which would result in death and great bodily injury.”