Brown stands on trial after Houston altercation

Bobby Brown stood on trial Wednesday in an Atlanta courtroom facing charges stemming from the altercation that he and his wife Whitney Houston had at their home near Alpharetta on December 7th. Brown allegedly struck Houston in the face, leaving her with a bruised cheek and a cut inside her lip. The R&B singer is charged with a misdemeanor for battery and Judge Barry Zimmerman decided that there was enough evidence to go forward with the case during the five minute hearing. Brown is scheduled to report for fingerprinting on July 10 or 11, where he will then be released on a $2,000 bond. Judge Zimmerman ordered Brown not to have any "violent contact" with Houston.

No trial date has been set at this time but if convicted Brown could face a one year jail sentence or a $1,000 fine. However, first time offenders are usually dismissed on a first time offense in a domestic violence case if the defendant agrees to undergo counseling. Brown's lawyer Maurice Bennett was pleased with the outcome and expected the hearing to go the way it did.

Brown and Houston exchanged smiles throughout the duration of the hearing and left arm in arm after the proceedings. No comment was made from either party yet both looked to be in good spirits. Brown, 35, and Houston, 40, have been married since 1992 and have a 10-year-old daughter named Bobbi Kristina. Brown has a history of disobeying the law and Houston is currently receiving treatment for drug abuse, but as expected, the two stood by each other on this day as they always have through thick and thin, because that's their prerogative.