Chris Brown rejects plea deal in DC assault case; lawyers proclaim his innocence

WASHINGTON – Lawyers for Chris Brown say the singer has rejected a plea deal in a case in which he’s accused of hitting a man outside a Washington hotel.

Brown appeared Wednesday afternoon in a D.C. court. He and his bodyguard face a misdemeanour assault charge after an October altercation outside the W Hotel.

Speaking outside of court, Brown’s lawyer, Danny Onorato said they had decided not to accept the plea because “Chris Brown’s not guilty.”

His lawyers say they expect a trial date to be set at another hearing, scheduled for Feb. 20.

At the time he was charged, the Grammy winner was on probation in California for a 2009 attack on singer Rihanna, his then-girlfriend. As a result of the charge in Washington, a judge revoked Brown’s probation in California.