Names and faces

— A Los Angeles County judge kept Chris Brown on probation Wednesday and ordered more information regarding allegations that the singer did not complete his court-ordered community service in Virginia. Judge James Brandlin ordered Brown to report to his probation officer within 48 hours and provide any documentation related to his community service, and scheduled another hearing for April 5. Brown is on five years’ probation after pleading guilty to a felony count of assault in a 2009 attack on his girlfriend, pop star Rihanna, who accompanied him to court Wednesday. Brown’s attorney, Mark Geragos, said he submitted paperwork to the court Wednesday in response to the allegations, and would have supplemental information later. The motion filed by Deputy District Attorney Mary Murray said an investigation into Brown’s community service found “significant discrepancies indicating at best sloppy documentation and at worst fraudulent reporting,” and asked a judge to order Brown to carry out his court-ordered labor in Los Angeles County instead of Virginia, where he lives. The filing outlined a series of inconsistencies with a report prepared by Richmond, Va., police, and alleged Brown was not in the city - or even the country - during times he reportedly was picking up trash. Geragos sharply disputed the allegations, accusing prosecutors of making “scurrilous, libelous and defamatory statements” against his client. Geragos also disagreed with suggestions in supporting documents filed by the district attorney’s office, alleging the defense attorney coached Virginia authorities in their conversations with investigators.

Robin Roberts will permanently return to Good Morning America on Feb. 20, co-host George Stephanopoulos announced Thursday morning. “She’s met with her doctors, they’ve cleared her to come back to the show,” he said, noting that Roberts would be returning five months to the day after she took a leave for treatment of a rare blood disorder called myelodysplastic syndrome. Last month, Roberts announced her intention to be back on the air within a few weeks. Since then, she has been going through dry runs at the studio to see if she can handle being on the set. She plans to initially work an abbreviated schedule.

Front Section, Pages 2 on 02/08/2013

Upcoming Events