Foxy Brown escaped jail time
yesterday after a judge cut the curvy rapper a break over her
fracas in Florida.
But Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Melissa Jackson warned the
hip-hop diva, who's already on probation for whacking two Chelsea
manicurists with a cell phone, that this marked her final chance to
stay out of the can.
"I'll be giving the keys to the jailhouse to Ms. Marchand," Jackson
lectured Brown, whose real name is Inga Marchand. "I'm willing to
give her another chance."
Brown, in a mauve top and a brown plaid Dolce & Gabbana skirt,
later thanked supporters and Jackson for letting her off the hook
again, saying the jurist "believes in me."
"I can tell by the look in her eyes," said Brown, 27. "They say,
'I'm pulling for you, kiddo.'"
The platinum-selling star was allowed to walk after pleading guilty
to violating her probation by leaving New York without
permission.
Her latest rage hit the papers last month when she made a pit stop
in a beauty supply store near Fort Lauderdale.
Police said Brown threw hair glue at a shop employee when he asked
her to leave the ladies room because the store was closing. She
later allegedly struggled with an officer.
Brown's version was that the shopkeeper pulled her out of the
bathroom with her pants down.
The city Probation Department wanted her jailed, especially because
she had already had a fight with a counselor at her anger
management class.
But Brown's lawyer thanked the judge for allowing her to plead
guilty to just one of six probation violations.
"I explained to her: There is no lucky No. 7," said the lawyer,
state Sen. John Sampson (D-Brooklyn).
Brown said she was happy to be free, but insisted she wasn't afraid
of jail, either.
"I'm from Brooklyn, baby," Brown said. "I'm a tough girl."
Originally published on March 2, 2007