On June 24 , 2009 , Brown pled guilty to the felony assault and was ordered to five years probation and to stay fifty yards away from Rihanna , unless it is at a public event , which then will it will be reduced to ten yards . On June 22 , 2009 , Brown pled guilty to the felony assault . In exchange for his plea Brown received five years probation and was ordered to stay fifty yards away from Rihanna , unless at public events , which then will be reduced to ten yards .