Names in the News : Soul Singer Brown Gets 6-Year Term

Soul singer James Brown today pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor charges stemming from a chase by police in two states and was sentenced to six years in jail and fined $1,000. Earlier today, Brown’s wife received probation and a $600 fine after pleading no contest to a charge of driving under the influence.

Brown, who is serving a six-year sentence in South Carolina on charges involving the same chase, pleaded guilty to having no state license tag, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, attempting to flee or elude police, carrying a deadly weapon to a public gathering, simple assault and improper lane change. Richmond County State Court Judge Gayle B. Hamrick said Brown’s sentence will run concurrently with the sentence in neighboring South Carolina.