Chris Brown: Looking to Deal

At his arraignment today for aggravated assault and making criminal threats Brown will plead not guilty tomorrow, however the plea may just be a formality.

Chris Brown's lawyer and prosecutors in the Rihanna case are currently engaged in serious plea bargain negotiations and according to one source, a "deal is close."

Sources say Rihanna has made it quite clear she does not want to testify in the case and wants Brown - with whom she is "taking a break" - to cop a plea.

One reason Rihanna's in Barbados right now is because "she wants to be as far away from this case as possible," and she's trying to keep her distance - literally.

Chris Brown is inclined to plead either guilty or to plead no contest to a misdemeanor, provided he got no jail time. The District Attorney and Mark Geragos, Chris Brown's lawyer, have since gotten down to the specifics.

What is not known is if the R&B star has changed his view and would now accept jail time to avoid a trial. That would be a bit surprising, although the charges he faces - which carry more than four years in jail - are no joke.

Chris Brown will be in court in person today at his arraingment.