Proof positive that some things never change, a judge tossed occasional R&B singer Bobby Brown in the slammer for 90 days or until he pays $63,000 to the mother of his two children to cover back child support pay.

Brown, the husband of pop superstar Whitney Houston, was handcuffed and led out of the Norfolk County family court after Judge Paula Carey told him that he made no attempts, no efforts to pay one single dime of the money owed to Kim Ward, the mother of his two children.

"I am concerned that if I allow you to leave this court, I'll never see you again,'' the judge told Brown, who sighed deeply and wiped tears from his eyes throughout the hour-long hearing. "I'm also concerned that you'll make another album in a haste to pay this money, but I can't let the fears of a re-release of 'Humpin' Around' sway my decision."

But Ward's attorney, Linda Medonis, pointed out that yesterday's hearing was the eighth time Ward had gone to court seeking overdue child support payments and that four of the eight times, Brown was a no-show.

"She's a very caring and gracious lady who just cares about her kids,'' Medonis said. ``She's not malicious or vengeful. This was a very difficult day for her. No one wants to see him come out with another CD. He's so 1991.''