Back Behind Bars...

[From E! Online]

Bobby Brown Back Behind Bars

by Josh Grossberg
Feb 27, 2004, 2:10 PM PT

It seems every little step Bobby Brown takes these days leads him back to the big house.

A judge in DeKalb County, Georgia, on Friday ordered the R&B bad boy locked up for 60 days for violating the terms of his probation stemming from his conviction on a 1996 drunken driving charge.

State Court Judge Wayne Purdom, who has probably seen more of Brown than most of his fans at this point, could've given the singer a full four months in the pen but opted for two after the former King of New Jack Swing presented evidence showing he had undergone counseling, paid $105 in supervision fees and completed 240 hours of community service.

"Since you did complete most of the original conditions, I don't feel obliged to sentence you to 120 days," Purdom told the singer.

According to DeKalb District Attorney spokeswoman Courtney Johnson, Brown "will serve the 60 days and the only other condition he will have is he won't be able to drive for 60 days after his release and not have any traffic violations."

In January 2003, Brown, 35, pleaded guilty to a slew of charges dating back to 1996, including driving under the influence, failing to show proof of insurance, speeding and failing to maintain a lane while driving. He was subsequently sentenced to two years' probation and an eight-day jail term.

Brown landed back behind bars Feb. 20 and had been held without bond until Friday's sentencing hearing after authorities learned he had failed to live up to the terms Purdom had set for him.

According to Johnson, Brown's lapses included failure to report to a probation officer, to pay a supervision fee of $35 a month, to undergo treatment for substance abuse, to enroll and complete 60 days of house arrest and to submit to random drug tests.

Purdom made no mention in Friday's hearing of the December domestic spat between Brown and wife Whitney Houston, in which he was arrested and charged for allegedly hitting her.

Houston, who was cut and bruised during the altercation, said she preferred to work out the matter privately and Brown issued a public apology, but authorities still charged Brown with battery. A preliminary hearing in that case is scheduled for May 5.

Prosecutors brought the incident to light at a hearing last Friday, but Purdom didn't say whether it played a role in his ultimate sentencing.

Meanwhile, Houston was MIA for the hearing. She usually shows up to support him during his myriad legal hassles.

The one bright spot for Brown is that his lawyer, Maurice Bennett, did manage to get the singer credit for the seven days he's already spent in jail. Bennett could not immediately be reached for comment as of press time.

If Brown keeps on his best behavior for the next four months, he can petition to have the remainder of his probation suspended, says Johnson. Otherwise, his probation on the DUI charges is scheduled to end on Feb. 17, 2005.
 

NEWSFILE: 27 FEBRUARY 2004