District prosecutors on Monday lowered an assault charge against Grammy award winning R&B singer Chris Brown, who is accused of striking a man during a fight outside a posh Washington hotel, from a felony to a misdemeanor, according to court records. Brown told police he did not punch the man, according to court papers. The 24-year-old entertainer appeared in D.C. Superior Court along with his friend and bodyguard, Christopher Hollosy, 35, who also was charged with misdemeanor assault in what police described as an altercation outside the W Hotel in the 500 block of 15th Street NW.

Brown and Hollosy were charged by D.C. police with hitting a man at about 4:30 a.m. under disputed circumstances following a party at the Park at 14th, one of several nightclub events drawing crowds during Howard University’s homecoming weekend. The parties were not affiliated with the school.

Danny Onorato, a former federal prosecutor and Brown’s attorney said after the court hearing that he is “confident Mr. Brown will be exonerated.”