Chris Brown & Rihanna Arrest Records
A factual guide to the 2009 Los Angeles assault case, Chris Brown’s guilty plea, sentencing, probation closure, and how to search official criminal court records.
Quick answer: Chris Brown was arrested in Los Angeles on February 8, 2009, following an assault involving Rihanna. He pleaded guilty to one felony assault count on June 22, 2009, and received a sentence involving five years of probation, community labor, and domestic violence counseling. The court ended his probation on March 20, 2015. 2009 AP coverage · 2015 AP follow-up.
01 / Case overview
What Happened in the Chris Brown and Rihanna Arrest Case?
The Chris Brown and Rihanna case concerns a February 2009 domestic violence incident in Los Angeles that resulted in a felony assault conviction.
On February 8, 2009, Brown was arrested after an incident involving his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna, shortly before that year’s Grammy Awards. Prosecutors later filed felony charges of assault and making criminal threats.
According to contemporaneous reporting on court proceedings, Brown initially pleaded not guilty in April. On June 22, 2009, he changed his plea and admitted guilt to one count of felony assault. The case did not proceed to a full criminal trial.
His sentence included probation, community labor, and participation in a domestic violence counseling program. The Los Angeles Superior Court eventually ended his probation in March 2015 after the judge found that he had completed the terms of his sentence. The court’s action closed the supervision associated with the 2009 case; it was not an acquittal.
These facts are supported by Los Angeles Times reporting on the plea and Associated Press reporting on the probation closure.
Was Rihanna arrested in this case?
No. The 2009 criminal case concerned Brown’s assault of Rihanna. Rihanna was the victim identified in the proceedings, not a defendant arrested for the assault.
Searches using phrases such as “Chris Brown Rihanna arrests” should not be interpreted as evidence that both individuals were arrested or charged.
Why do some sources use different descriptions?
Reports written at different stages of a criminal case may describe allegations, charges, pleas, sentencing, or later court action. Those stages are different and should not be treated as interchangeable.
For example, contemporary reports described the original charges, while the final outcome centered on Brown’s guilty plea to felony assault. A reliable arrest records guide must identify the stage of the case being discussed.
02 / Documented chronology
Chris Brown and Rihanna Case Timeline
The following timeline separates the arrest, court proceedings, sentence, and later probation closure. It does not include unrelated allegations or later incidents involving other individuals.
Arrest in Los Angeles
Brown was arrested following an assault involving Rihanna. Police investigated the incident, and the case attracted extensive media coverage ahead of the Grammy Awards.
Criminal charges filed
Los Angeles prosecutors charged Brown with felony assault likely to cause great bodily injury and making criminal threats. These were the charges at the beginning of the prosecution, not two separate convictions.
Initial not-guilty plea
Brown appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court and pleaded not guilty. The proceedings continued toward a preliminary hearing.
Felony assault guilty plea
Brown pleaded guilty to one count of felony assault under an agreement with prosecutors. The agreement contemplated probation and community labor instead of an immediate jail sentence for the case.
Formal sentencing
Brown was sentenced to five years of probation, 180 days of community labor, and a year-long domestic violence counseling program. The court also imposed protective conditions.
Probation concluded
A Los Angeles judge ended Brown’s felony probation after finding that the terms of his sentence had been completed.
03 / Official court access
How to Search Chris Brown’s 2009 Criminal Court Records
Because the criminal prosecution occurred in Los Angeles, the appropriate official starting point is the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.
The court provides a criminal defendant name-index service and criminal case summary access. The name index supports felony searches going back to 1980, so a 2009 felony case falls within its published historical search range.
Step-by-step court records lookup
- Open the criminal name index.
Visit the Los Angeles Superior Court Criminal Defendant Index. Read the current fee and search instructions.
- Enter the defendant’s name.
Search using the defendant-name fields for Chris Brown. Because names can be shared, do not assume every result refers to the singer.
- Check case-identifying details.
Compare filing date, case type, court location, and other available identifiers with the 2009 Los Angeles prosecution.
- Record the correct case number.
Use the case number returned by the official system to access its corresponding case summary. Do not rely on an unverified case number from a fan website or social post.
- Open the criminal case summary.
Review the available information about proceedings, charges, court events, and disposition through the official Find a Case service.
- Request unavailable documents from the court.
If you need original pleadings or orders rather than a summary, follow the court’s in-person or records-request procedures for criminal case documents.
The Los Angeles Superior Court explains that criminal case document images are not generally available through its online document-image service. A public case summary and a certified copy of an original document are different services.
Does searching the court database cost money?
The court states that criminal defendant name-index searches can incur a public-access fee. Additional fees may apply for particular searches, indexing work, or copies of records.
Review the official fee information before initiating a paid search. Do not assume that every record can be downloaded immediately or for free.
Can you search without a case number?
Yes. The court specifically provides a Search for Case Number by Defendant Name service. Once the appropriate case number is established, it can help narrow further research.
If the search returns several similar names, compare case dates and locations rather than guessing. For assistance, use the court’s criminal case information guidance.
04 / Arrest reports and police records
How to Request Los Angeles Police Arrest Records
A court case record and a police arrest record are not the same document. The Los Angeles Police Department, or LAPD, maintains records under its own retention, access, identification, and disclosure procedures.
Arrest summaries versus crime reports
The LAPD states that a person arrested by the department may request a summary of their own LAPD arrests. That summary is not a comprehensive public lookup for anyone who wants another person’s arrest history.
The police department also has separate procedures for requesting copies of crime reports. Access depends on whether the requester is authorized and on applicable disclosure restrictions.
For a historical case involving a named public figure, consult the court’s public case records first. The existence of news reports does not automatically make every underlying investigative document publicly releasable.
Official LAPD records procedures
- Determine whether the document sought is an arrest summary, incident report, or court filing.
- Open the appropriate LAPD records information page.
- Check eligibility, identification requirements, and whether the requester is legally authorized to receive the document.
- Follow the current instructions for submitting the application and any permitted fees.
- If the request is refused or restricted, review the explanation and applicable California law before considering a further request.
Official resources: LAPD Arrest Summary Instructions and LAPD Police Report Instructions.
Can anyone obtain the original Rihanna police report?
Not necessarily. Crime reports may contain information protected by privacy rules, law enforcement exemptions, victim protections, or other laws. The LAPD specifies that copies of certain crime reports are restricted to authorized requesters.
For most general research, public court information and contemporaneous reporting are more appropriate than attempting to obtain confidential investigative material.
05 / Guilty plea, sentencing and closure
What Was the Final Outcome of the 2009 Case?
The decisive legal event was Brown’s guilty plea to a felony assault count on June 22, 2009. The court later sentenced him to five years of probation, six months of community labor, and domestic violence counseling.
Did Chris Brown receive jail time in the 2009 sentence?
The 2009 plea agreement avoided an immediate custodial sentence for that assault case. Instead, the court imposed the probationary and labor-related requirements described above.
This does not mean Brown never served jail time for any reason. Separate legal matters and later probation proceedings must not be inaccurately folded into the original sentencing outcome.
Was a restraining or protective order issued?
Contemporaneous reports described a court-imposed stay-away order in connection with the 2009 proceedings. Such orders are legal conditions tied to a specific period and case.
Do not assume that the original 2009 order remains effective today. The legal status of any order must be established from current authoritative records.
What happened in March 2015?
On March 20, 2015, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James R. Brandlin ended Brown’s felony probation. Associated Press reporting stated that the judge found Brown had completed the terms of his sentence.
Ending probation did not reverse the guilty plea or constitute a finding that the assault did not occur.
Are later Chris Brown cases part of the Rihanna prosecution?
No. Other criminal investigations or prosecutions involving Brown have their own dates, jurisdictions, evidence and outcomes. They should not be represented as part of the February 2009 Los Angeles case merely because they involve the same defendant.
For example, a separate United Kingdom criminal proceeding concerning a 2023 London nightclub incident reached a sentencing outcome on October 26, 2026. That was a distinct case and did not reopen the 2009 Rihanna prosecution. See Reuters’ October 26, 2026 report.
06 / Which record means what?
Arrest Record, Criminal Charge, Conviction and Probation
Search results often combine these terms. Their legal meanings differ.
| Record Type | Meaning | Best Source |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest record | Documents an arrest or related law enforcement action. | Arresting agency, where legally accessible. |
| Criminal charge | Identifies an offense formally alleged by prosecutors. | Charging documents and court case records. |
| Guilty plea | Records the defendant’s admission of guilt to an offense accepted in court. | Court plea and proceedings records. |
| Sentence | Describes the punishment or conditions imposed by the court. | Sentencing order and docket. |
| Probation closure | Records the termination of court supervision; it does not by itself erase a conviction. | Subsequent court orders. |
What makes a court document more reliable than a social media post?
An official court record is maintained within the judicial process. A social media post may omit the procedural stage, rely on inaccurate summaries, or repeat allegations as if they were proven findings.
Reliable research distinguishes what prosecutors alleged, what the defendant admitted, what a judge ordered, and what later court proceedings changed.
Does a criminal case closure mean the records disappear?
No. Closure and record removal are separate matters. Depending on the jurisdiction and applicable law, historical criminal case information may remain accessible after probation or other supervision ends.
Availability may also be affected by sealing, access restrictions, retention policies, or court administrative rules. Use the actual official records system to determine whether a particular record remains public.
07 / Troubleshooting searches
What If You Cannot Find the 2009 Case?
The search returns several people with the same name
Compare filing dates, case type, courthouse information and other available identifiers. Do not assume every defendant named Christopher Brown is the singer.
The online case index requires payment
Los Angeles Superior Court states that defendant name-index searches may incur fees. Review the fee disclosures and decide whether an official case search is necessary for your purpose.
Original court documents are unavailable online
The court’s online service does not generally provide downloadable criminal document images. Public access to a case summary does not guarantee online access to every underlying document.
The case is too old for a recent booking system
A current jail roster or recent arrest database is not an appropriate place to search for a 2009 court prosecution. Use historical court indexes and authorized records request channels.
A website claims a different legal outcome
Check its publication date. A report from March 2009 may describe criminal charges, a report from June 2009 may describe the plea, and a report from March 2015 may discuss probation closure. Those descriptions may each concern a different procedural stage.
The case number is uncertain
Use the official defendant-name index to establish the correct case number instead of copying an unverified identifier from another website.
For the 2009 prosecution, the most useful reference points are the arrest date of February 8, 2009, the guilty plea of June 22, 2009, the formal sentencing of August 25, 2009, and probation termination on March 20, 2015.
09 / Frequently asked questions
Chris Brown Rihanna Arrest Records: FAQs
When was Chris Brown arrested in the Rihanna case?
Brown was arrested on February 8, 2009, following an assault involving Rihanna in Los Angeles.
Was Rihanna arrested alongside Chris Brown?
No. Rihanna was the victim in the 2009 assault case, not a defendant arrested in connection with the attack.
What charge did Chris Brown plead guilty to?
On June 22, 2009, he pleaded guilty to one felony assault count in Los Angeles Superior Court.
What sentence did Chris Brown receive in 2009?
His sentence included five years of probation, 180 days of community labor and a one-year domestic violence counseling program.
Did Chris Brown go to jail for the original Rihanna assault sentence?
The 2009 plea agreement did not impose immediate jail time as the sentence for that assault. Other legal matters and subsequent probation-related proceedings should be treated separately.
When did the Rihanna assault probation case end?
Los Angeles Superior Court ended Brown’s felony probation on March 20, 2015, after the judge determined that the sentence requirements had been completed.
Where are the official criminal court records?
The official starting point is the Los Angeles Superior Court Criminal Defendant Index. A name search can help identify the relevant case number.
Can I download the full police report online?
Not automatically. Access to LAPD crime reports is restricted according to requester eligibility and applicable law. The department publishes separate procedures for authorized police report requests.
Can I search without knowing the case number?
Yes. Los Angeles Superior Court provides a defendant-name index, although a public-access search fee may apply.
Is a guilty plea the same as an arrest?
No. An arrest is a law enforcement event. A guilty plea is an admission of guilt in a criminal court proceeding. The legal consequences and evidentiary meaning differ.
Does probation ending erase a felony conviction?
No. Ending probation is not automatically the same as overturning, expunging, sealing or vacating the conviction. Any change to the conviction must be determined from relevant official court records.
Are later Chris Brown legal cases related to the 2009 Rihanna prosecution?
Later criminal cases must be researched independently. They may involve different incidents, jurisdictions, dates and legal outcomes.
10 / Official resources and verified reporting
Sources for the Chris Brown Rihanna Case
Official judicial resources provide the strongest starting point for researching original case information. Contemporary news coverage helps establish the documented historical timeline when complete court documents are not accessible online.
Official government sources
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Criminal Case Information: Guidance on finding public criminal case information.
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Criminal Defendant Index: Defendant-name searches and historical case coverage.
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Find a Case: Official court case access and document limitations.
- Los Angeles County District Attorney — Criminal Case Information: Locating criminal case information and numbers.
- LAPD — Police Report Requests: Authorized access to crime reports and agency requirements.
Historical case reporting
- Los Angeles Times, June 23, 2009: Guilty plea and agreed sentence terms.
- Reuters, August 26, 2009: Formal sentencing report.
- Associated Press, March 20, 2015: End of probation and closure of supervision.
How to Verify the Case Yourself
Start by searching the official Los Angeles Superior Court defendant index for the correct 2009 felony case. Review its available proceedings and disposition. For original court documents, follow the court’s records access instructions.
If a third-party account gives a different version of the outcome, compare its date with the documented plea, sentencing, and probation closure rather than relying on the most recent social media summary.