Police briefs

An equestrian riding instructor who used to operate his business out

of the Orange County Fairgrounds pleaded guilty to one count of child

annoyance Monday, officials said.

In April, Garth Brown, 37, of Costa Mesa, was charged with one count

of sexual battery and one count of child annoyance when a 17-year-old

girl accused him of sexual misconduct.

A Superior Court Judge sentenced Brown to 200 hours of community

service, one year of sexual offender counseling and three years of formal

probation. He will also be required to pay a fine of $2,000, avoid

unsupervised contact with minors, write letters of apology to the victim

and register as a sex offender.

Brown operated Garth and Brenda Brown Performance Horses at the

fairgrounds where students are trained in Western style horse riding.

Officials said he recently relocated the business to Riverside County.