Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to punching Parker Adams outside W Hotel in Washington DC in October 2013.
The 25-year-old rapper was accused of attacking Parker Adams as he tried to join a picture the singer was taking with two women.
Chris Brown had been charged with misdemeanor assault and had been in police custody for two days in connection with this case.
The judge sentenced Chris Brown to time served, meaning he was free to go after appearing in court.
Chris Brown had previously rejected two plea deals.
Outside court, Chris Brown’s lawyer told reporters that his client had been put on trial for a “phantom crime”.
Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to punching Parker Adams outside W Hotel in Washington DC in October 2013
Danny Onorato said: “To say that he’s been punished severely in this matter is an understatement.”
At the time of the assault, Chris Brown was on probation in California for a 2009 attack on then-girlfriend, Rihanna.
As a result, he was ordered to serve an additional 131 days in jail and was only released in June.
Chris Brown said nothing to hundreds of photographers, reporters and fans waiting for him outside court, but had earlier apologized to the court.
Since his assault on Rihanna, Chris Brown has been involved in a number of incidents.
Chris Brown’s career has been on hold for almost a year and his lawyer said the rapper would now go back to work, including a tour in support of his new album, X, which is due out on September 16.
His bodyguard, Christopher Hollosy, was also charged over the same Washington scuffle.
Christopher Hollosy was accused of being the second person after Chris Brown to strike Parker Adams outside the W Hotel.
The bodyguard was convicted of misdemeanor assault in April but has not yet been sentenced.
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Chris Brown’s assault trial, which had been set for Monday, is set to resume on Wednesday.
Chris Brown and his bodyguard Christopher Hollosy were arrested in October after a man accused them of punching him outside a Washington hotel.
The trial was delayed on Monday while lawyers work out issues over a testimony from Christopher Hollosy, who was convicted of assault in a separate trial.
The bodyguard told police he punched the man first.
But court documents describe events differently, claiming Chris Brown punched the man first when he tried to get in a picture the singer was having taken with two women.
The papers also say the man was treated for a fractured nose and injuries to his face and head.
Judge Patricia Wynn set Christopher Hollosy’s sentencing for June 25.
Chris Brown and his bodyguard Christopher Hollosy were arrested in October after a man accused them of punching him outside a Washington hotel (photo Getty Images)
Chris Brown’s lawyers now want him to testify at the singer’s trial.
Christopher Hollosy would be expected to say that he, not Chris Brown, punched the man outside the W Hotel.
However, Christopher Hollosy’s lawyer, Bernard Grimm, told a judge he planned to appeal against his client’s conviction.
Unless prosecutors grant Christopher Hollosy immunity, testifying in Chris Brown’s case could affect his appeal.
Prosecutors haven’t said if they will grant Christopher Hollosy immunity and have previously said waiting until his appeal is over could take a year.
Chris Brown’s attorney Mark Geragos said outside court that he wanted to move forward.
“I don’t think that there’s any doubt Chris Brown is not guilty,” he said.
But Mark Geragos also said Christopher Hollosy’s testimony was crucial to Chris Brown’s case.
He said prosecutors have a “duty to fairly treat a defendant and to extend immunity in certain situations”.
“It’s going to be our argument that this is one of those situations,” he added.
Mark Geragos said he expected Chris Brown’s trial, when it does start, to last no longer than two days.
Chris Brown was on probation in California for an attack in 2009 on his then-girlfriend Rihanna when it’s claimed the assault took place.
Soon after his arrest in Washington Chris Brown entered rehab for anger management treatment, but he was jailed in mid-March after violating the treatment facility’s rules.
If convicted in the Washington case, Chris Brown could face jail time under the terms of a court order in the Rihanna case.
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