Chris Brown begins community service in Virginia

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Chris Brown cleared weeds and debris at police horse stables in Virginia on Wednesday for the first day of his 180-day court-ordered community service for beating ex-girlfriend Rihanna.

The 20-year-old R&B singer worked along with two others who were serving probation, clearing tall weeds and brush by hand and with yard tools. Additional officers were on hand, but only a few fans and television crews gathered nearby.

Dressed in an orange vest, white tank top, baggy jeans and red baseball cap, Brown did not speak to the media but he waved to fans who saw him working.

Brown’s schedule, including work hours and days, will be flexible, and he will be performing different types of manual labor, Richmond Police spokesman Gene Lepley said. Police will not reveal when or where Brown will be working in hopes of avoiding security and logistical problems, he said.

“We’ll just take a look at it day by day and certainly would ask for the cooperation of the public and Chris’ fans so that he is able to satisfy the work requirements,” Lepley said.

Brown must pay for the extra guards who work while he is performing community service. He was sentenced in California last month to five years’ probation, six months of community labor and a year of domestic violence counseling for the February attack.

He is performing the labor and undergoing counseling in Richmond, near his home in Montpelier.

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