CALIFORNIA BRIEFING

A judge delayed sentencing R&B; singer Chris Brown on Wednesday for his assault on pop star Rihanna, citing questions about the community service requirement.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg said she needed more information from Brown’s home state of Virginia, where he is to serve five years’ probation, about what work the singer would perform.

When Brown struck a plea deal with prosecutors, the judge was adamant that the six months of community service include physically difficult and unglamorous work, such as picking up trash.

Brown attended the hearing with his mother and several supporters, but did not speak. He is to return to court Aug. 27.

The sentence for the singer of hits including “Run It!” and “Forever” includes a yearlong domestic violence prevention class. He is also barred from coming within 50 yards of Rihanna unless they are attending the same function, in which case the distance is 10 yards.

In a recently released video, Brown apologized for the February assault that left 21-year-old Rihanna bloodied and bruised, saying: “I am very sad and very ashamed of what I have done.”

-- Harriet Ryan