Chris Brown pleads not guilty in assault charge

UPDATED 8:04 P.M.: Chris Brown pleaded not guilty yesterday to a reduced charge of misdemeanor assault after he was arrested Sunday for felony assault outside a Washington hotel.

The R&B singer, 24, was arrested along with his bodyguard, Christopher Hollosy, 35, for punching Parker Adams, 20, after Adams tried to “photobomb” a picture Brown was taking with fans, a police report said, adding Adams had “swelling and bruising to the nasal area” with apparent broken bones. Medics took him to a hospital for treatment.

Brown faces a maximum of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted. The singer’s attorney said in court that “Brown committed no crime.”

“We understand that his security acted to protect Mr. Brown and his property, as he is authorized to do under District of Columbia law. We are confident that Mr. Brown will be exonerated of any wrongdoing,” said Brown’s attorney, Danny Onorato, according to published reports.

Brown has been on probation since 2009 after assualting pop singer Rihanna, his then-girlfriend.