L.A. prosecutors have charged 19-year-old R&B singer with beating his girlfriend, fellow artist Rihanna. He could get almost five years in jail if convicted of the two felonies.

According to a detective's affidavit, Brown and Rihanna got into a fight early Feb. 8 after the "Umbrella" singer checked her boyfriend's cell phone and found a text message from another woman.
Brown pulled his car over and tried to push Rihanna out, but she was still wearing her seatbelt, Los Angeles police Detective De Shon Andrews wrote. He said Brown pushed Rihanna's head against the window, punched her with his right hand, and then continued driving while hitting her, the affidavit states. He also bit his girlfriend on the ear, the affidavit states....

Andrews described Brown's blows as causing Rihanna's mouth to fill with blood. He also writes that Brown tried to choke Rihanna after she took the keys to his car away. Andrews wrote that Rihanna nearly lost consciousness but also tried to fight back while in the car, at one point trying to gouge at Brown's eyes.

The complaint identifies Brown's victim as "Robyn F." Rihanna's full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty. The Smoking Gun has the affidavit and warrants. The gruesome details do little for a public image that Brown has been trying to rehabilitate.

(Photo by AP/Matt Sayles)