Entertainer Chris Brown smiles during his sentencing in Los Angeles August 25, 2009. Brown was sentenced to five years' probation and 180 days of community labor by a Los Angeles judge on Tuesday, under a plea deal worked out for an assault on his then-girlfriend, pop singer Rihanna, earlier this year. REUTERS/Rick Loomis/Pool

R&B singer Chris Brown was on Tuesday placed on felony probation for 5 years for assaulting his former girlfriend Rihanna.

Brown will perform community labor in Virginia and he must also go through a 52 week domestic violence counseling program. He is required to maintain contact with the probation department and is subject to search and seizure 24/7 for the next 60 months.

The singers sentencing was originally scheduled for Thursday and was moved up at his lawyer's request.

Brown, 20, had his sentencing which was scheduled for earlier this month delayed after a judge learned that authorities in Virginia, where Brown wants to serve probation, hadn't yet agreed to a probation plan.

Brown publicly apologized to Rihanna and described his actions as inexcusable and pledged to do better.

I saw firsthand what uncontrolled rage can do, he tells viewers. I have sought and am continuing to seek help to ensure that what occurred in February can never happen again.

Since the assault, Browns career has taken a beating with many radio stations refusing to play his music and many fans turning against him. The singer is reported to have also lost sponsors.