R&B singer Chris Brown's next court appearance in Washington is now scheduled for Jan. 8.
A D.C. Superior Court judge granted the new date Monday. Brown's attorneys successfully argued that he should not be forced to leave anger management rehabilitation in Los Angeles and travel to Washington for the hearing scheduled for Monday.
Brown was ordered back to three months of rehab by another judge last week.
His lawyers sought the delay to January because they said they haven't had an opportunity to review evidence with him.
Both Brown and bodyguard Christopher Hollosy will be required to appear at the next hearing. They were arrested last month on charges of punching a man outside a hotel who tried to jump into a picture with the singer.
Brown is charged with misdemeanor simple assault in the case. He has not entered a plea.
He faces up to 180 days in jail if convicted.
The charge stems from an incident in the early-morning hours of Sunday, Oct. 27, when the alleged victim tried to get into a picture with Brown and two other people outside D.C.'s upscale W Hotel.
According to that document, Brown told the man, "I'm not down with that gay [expletive]" and "I feel like boxing."
The victim received treatment for his injuries at a local hospital and was released. He told NBCWashington that he suffered a broken nose and may need surgery.
However, court documents show that there are conflicting stories about whether Brown himself was involved in the fight.
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"Mr. Brown committed no crime," Brown's attorney, Danny Onorato, said shortly after the Oct. 28 hearing. "We understand that his security staff acted to protect Mr. Brown and his property as is authorized by District of Columbia law."
The D.C. charge could further snarl the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer's ongoing legal troubles.
Brown is still on probation for his 2009 attack on then-girlfriend Rihanna.
