Singer Chris Brown A No-Show At Assault Hearing In Tampa

TAMPA, FL — Grammy-winning R&B singer Chris Brown was a no-show in court Monday but fans are hoping that won't be the case Aug. 31.

That's when Brown is scheduled to perform at Amalie Arena as part of his summer Indigoat Tour.

Another visit to Tampa proved memorable for Brown for the wrong reason.

Brown was attending an after-concert party at the now-closed Aja Channelside nightclub on Meridian Avenue around 1 a.m. April 17, 2017, when he became annoyed with club photographer Bennie L. Vines.

Vines told police that Brown was sitting near him and motioned to Vines to move away. Vines told police he moved away and attempted to tell Brown that he was hired to take pictures of the crowd.

Witnesses said Brown then approached Vines, assumed a fighting stance and punched Vines in the mouth, causing a small laceration to his upper lip. Vines declined medical treatment for his cut lip.

By the time police arrived at the club, Brown and his entourage had left and couldn't be located.

Nevertheless, the State Attorney's Office of Hillsborough County issued a warrant for Brown's arrest on Aug. 11, 2017, for third-degree felony battery.

It took more than a year for that warrant to be served. Brown was arrested by Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies following his June 5, 2018, concert at the Coral Sky Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach. He was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail and released the next day on a $2,000 bond. Brown then headed to Tampa to perform his scheduled Friday night concert at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre.

As with Monday's hearing, Brown waived his right to appear in court at a Jan. 17 hearing in Hillsborough County's 13th Judicial Circuit Court. His attorney, Kevin Napper of Tampa, represented Brown at both hearings.

A third-degree felony battery conviction carries a penalty of up to five years in prison.

This isn't Brown's first run-in with the law. He pleaded guilty in 2009 to assaulting his then-girlfriend, pop singer Rhianna, and was placed on probation.

In September 2014, Brown pleaded guilty to simple assault in a case stemming from a sidewalk fight with two men at a Washington, D.C., hotel Oct. 27, 2013. He spent 36 hours in jail.

Brown was again the focus of a police investigation Jan. 2, 2016, after a woman accused him of beating her and stealing her cell phone during a party at the Palms Casino Resort.

Seven months later, he was jailed by Los Angeles Police in August 2016 on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after a model accused Brown of threatening and pointing a gun at her during a party at his Los Angeles mansion. Those charges were ultimately dropped.

Despite his history of violence, Brown continues to play to sold-out concerts. The 30-year-old singer now has more than 10 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Kiss Kiss," "Look at Me Now" and "Loyal."

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