Foxy Brown was sentenced Friday to one year in jail for violating probation that stemmed from a fight with two manicurists in a New York City nail salon three years ago.
“I’m not going to give you any more chances,” Criminal Court Judge Melissa Jackson told the 28-year-old rapper. “I hope you turn your life around and never again have to stand in a court of law.”
Probation Department officials asked for the hearing after Brown, whose real name is Inga Marchand, was arrested Aug. 14 in Brooklyn on charges of assaulting Arlene Raymond, 25.
Brown was accused of hitting the woman with a cell phone on July 30 when the pair fought over the music volume from Brown’s car stereo.
Just before the hearing began, Brown, her hands shackled to a scuffed brown belt that settled on the hips of her elegant gray pantsuit, asked the judge for yet another chance at freedom and promised to straighten out her life. Jackson had jailed her Aug. 22 to await the hearing.
“I’m willing to do whatever I need to do to change,” Brown told the judge. She said she had made a lot of mistakes. “I realize that’s not where I want to be. It’s humbled me in ways I never imagined.”
The judge replied, “Ms. Marchand, it’s too little, too late. I’m glad you’re learning something; that’s a positive.”
The judge found Brown had left the state without permission; had moved her residence from Brooklyn to Mahwah, N.J., without permission; had failed to notify the department of an arrest in Mahwah; had failed to report to probation officers, and had dropped court-ordered anger management sessions with a psychologist.
Probation officials said Brown, in Florida without permission on Feb. 15, was arrested for allegedly throwing hair glue at a beauty shop employee when he asked her to leave because the shop was closing.
Brown later struggled with an officer who was called to the shop, and she was charged with battery and resisting an officer with violence, police said. Brown was released after posting a $1,500 bond. That case is pending.
Brown was on probation after pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault of two manicurists at a Manhattan nail salon in August 2004 in a fight over how much she owed.
At the start of the hearing, Probation Department lawyer Matilda Leo told the judge that Brown had been indicted Friday in Brooklyn on charges of assault, attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon — the cell phone— in the alleged assault on Raymond.
Last month, in a court appearance before Jackson after the arrest related to Raymond, defense lawyers told the judge the rapper was three months pregnant. No mention was made Friday by anyone about Brown expecting a baby.