Brown, will be formally sentenced August 5. He had faced four years in prison if convicted in a trial on charges of assault and a making a criminal threat. There was no plea deal on a second charge.

Brown must also perform 180 days of community service in his home state of Virginia.

He was ordered to keep his distance from Rihanna, 21, who was in the courthouse on Monday and prepared to testify against him.

Brown showed no emotion as his  lawyer Mark Geragos told  Judge Patricia Schnegg of the plea agreement with prosecutors.

Brown was accused of beating Rihanna, after the two attended a music industry party in February on the eve of the Grammy Awards.

A police photo of  the bruised and battered face of Rihanna was leaked to the media but there have not been many other details released. Brown’s plea means that evidence against him will not be heard in an open court.

“Rihanna believes this is a fair and just resolution to this case,” her attorney Donald Etra told reporters outside the courthouse following the hearing. Rihanna learned of the plea about an hour before the hearing  Monday afternoon, Etra said.

L.A. District Attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said the plea was similar to other cases for first-time offenders like Brown and prosecutors had discussed it with Rihanna.