Chris Brown hit-and-run-case dismissed after 'civil compromise'

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Chris Brown’s name evokes controversy these days, so it’s easy to forget that he once had a role model image. From high school crooner to R&B star both idolized and vilified, here’s a brief look at Chris Brown’s life and career. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

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Chris Brown released his self-titled first album in 2005 after signing with Jive the year before at 15. His first single, “Run It,” debuted at No. 1, making it the highest-charting debut single for a male solo artist in Billboard history. (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

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After rounding out 2006 with a few more hits -- “Yo (Excuse Me Miss)” and “Gimme That” with Lil Wayne -- and a couple of tours (both with Ne-Yo and Beyonce), Brown released his second album, “Exclusive,” in November 2007. (Paul Hawthorne / Getty Images)

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Following in the tradition of Michael Jackson, Usher and Justin Timberlake, Brown’s dance floor prowess played into his pop persona as much as his high notes. His breakout performance at the 2007 MTV Video Awards included a stunt-heavy dance medley and a “Billie Jean” tribute. (Christina House / For the Times)

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When it came to tween heartthrob status, Brown was second to only the Jonas Brothers in Bop and Tiger Beat covers. He was nominated for Teen Choice Awards and had his own “My Super Sweet 18” birthday special on MTV. (Richard Drew / Associated Press)

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Brown worked with everyone from the vocoder-happy T-Pain to his kiddie contemporary Bow Wow. In 2008, Chris sang on Lil Mama’s “Shawty Get Loose” and had a hit with “No Air,” a duet with “American Idol” alum Jordin Sparks that appeared on her debut album. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

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In the days after his arrest, Brown’s music was dropped from some radio stations, Wrigley’s and Got Milk? discontinued using his advertisements in their campaigns, and “Sesame Street” stopped airing the episode in which he guest-starred. (Marcel Antonisse / EPA)

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R&B singer Brown pleaded guilty in June 2009 to assaulting his former girlfriend, pop star Rihanna, in February of that year. Brown’s lawyers secured a last-minute deal that allowed him to avoid jail time and another public airing of the domestic-violence allegations. (Lori Shepler / Associated Press)

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Three years after he was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend Rihanna after a pre-Grammys party, Chris Brown received his first Grammy award when his album “F.A.M.E.” won best R&B album. Brown said nothing about his past deeds as he accepted the award on the telecast. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Hip-hop stars Chris Brown and Drake were reportedly in a nightclub brawl in New York in June 2012 that left four people injured.Speculation quickly arose that the blow-up may have involved Brown’s former girlfriend Rihanna, with whom Drake had been seen recently. ( Robert Gauthier and Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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On Jan. 27, 2013, Chris Brown got into an altercation with fellow Grammy nominee (and later winner) Frank Ocean. An incident report disclosed that the fight began when Ocean approached Brown in the studio’s lobby, saying Brown had parked in Ocean’s assigned parking spot. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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The tumultuous couple officially got back together after months of openly flirting on Twitter, collaborating on the sex-themed song “Birthday Cake” and nonchalant “Nobody’s Business” and Rihanna professing her love to Chris Brown on “Oprah’s Next Chapter.” (Christopher Polk / Getty Images)

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At a probation hearing in November 2013 related to his 2009 conviction of assaulting Rihanna, Chris Brown was ordered by a judge to rehab for 90 days at an inpatient facility approved by officials. (David McNew / Getty Images)

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Forced to wear an orange jumpsuit to court, Chris Brown was ordered by a Los Angeles County judge to stay in jail without bail until April 23, pending a hearing to determine whether he violated terms of his probation. (Pool / Reuters)

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Chris Brown admitted violating his probation by committing a crime in the Washington, D.C., area and was promptly sentenced to a year in county jail by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge. (Pool / Getty Images)

By Nardine Saad

Aug. 15, 2013 4:15 PM PT

Chris Brown’s hit-and-run case stemming from a May fender bender has been dismissed.

Superior Court Judge Christine Ewell said Thursday that a “civil compromise” had been reached, L.A. Now reported.

The Grammy-winning R&B singer originally faced misdemeanor charges of hit-and-run, driving without a valid license and driving without valid insurance, but the latter two charges were dropped when the 24-year-old produced a driver license from his native Virginia and proof that he had insurance.

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The “Don’t Wake Me Up” singer’s attorney Mark Geragos filed a motion to dismiss the remaining hit-and-run charge because Brown had reached a civil settlement with the other driver, Olga Kovalenko, whose Mercedes was rear-ended in the May fender bender. He said that no additional money was paid to the car owner beyond the insurance payment for damage to the vehicle.

“The case never should have been filed in the first place. It’s unfortunate he was being prosecuted for who he is rather than what he’s done,” Geragos told TMZ.

Kovalenko reportedly didn’t want any money because the damage done was minor and asked for the case to be dismissed, TMZ reported. The L.A. city attorney had disagreed and argued that Brown’s alleged misdeeds violated his felony probation and alleged that he was also aggressive toward Kovalenko.

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The singer took to Twitter on Thursday to share his excitement over the dismissal, writing, “!!!!!!! Thank GOD!” and linking to TMZ’s coverage. (However, at the time of publication, the mobile link took followers to TMZ’s updated homepage declaring that “That 70s Show” actress Lisa Robin Kelly had died. In Breezy’s defense, the URL is for the story about his case being dismissed.)

In July, a judge revoked Brown’s five-year felony probation, which he was serving as a result of his 2009 assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna, because the hit-and-run incident may have violated the probation’s terms.

Despite the most recent case’s dismissal, his legal troubles aren’t over.

On Aug. 5., Brown was booked at a Van Nuys jail and released on his own recognizance until the Aug. 19 probation hearing in which he could face up to four years in jail if found in violation. The resulting media frenzy prompted the singer to say he was retiring from music after his upcoming album, “X.”

On Aug. 9, the singer suffered a non-epileptic seizure, which his rep said doctors attributed “to intense fatigue and extreme emotional stress, both due to the continued onslaught of unfounded legal matters and the nonstop negativity.”

On Tuesday, Brown was named in a lawsuit stemming from a studio parking spot altercation with his associate — referred to as “Hood” in court documents — and singer Frank Ocean in January. Sha’Keir M. Duarte, who filed the complaint, alleged battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and conspiracy to commit battery, according to L.A. Now.