Six-year term for singer after police chase

Press, 25 January 1989, Page 10

Six-year term for singer after police chase

NZPA-AP Augusta, Georgia The United States soul singer, James Brown, pleaded guilty yesterday to seven misdemeanour charges stemming from a chase by the police in two states and was sentenced to six years in jail and fined SUSIOOO ($1596). Earlier, Brown’s wife received probation and a SUS6OO fine after pleading no contest to a charge of driving under the influence. Brown, aged 55, pleaded guilty to having nd state license tag, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, attempting to flee or elude the. police, carrying a deadly weapon to a public gathering, simple assault, and improper lane change. He also pleaded no contest to driving under the influence. Judge Hamrick said Brown’s sentence would run concurrently with a six-year sentence in neighbouring South Carolina. The charges in both states resulted from the chase last September across the Georgia-South Carolina line. The charges against the singer’s 33-year-old wife, Adrienne, resulted from a September, 1987, incident in which she was charged with driving under the influence, speeding and criminal trespass. Brown told “U.S.A. Today” in a recent interview that he was “dealing” with being in prison.