It sure seemed Chris Brown was checkmated — sitting  in jail as the clock ticks for his D.C. assault trial that could  trigger a probation violation in the Rihanna case that could  land him in prison for 4 years …. but TMZ has learned his lawyer has found a  way out of the hole … by paying LOTS OF MONEY.

Sources  connected with the D.C. assault case tell TMZ … Chris’ lawyer, Mark  Geragos, has contacted the lawyer for the man who claims Chris assaulted him in D.C., breaking his nose, and offered him a BIG FAT CHECK.

We’re told Geragos is gunning for a civil settlement … which  could very well mean the broken nose guy would tell prosecutors he no longer has  an interest in pursuing the criminal case.  And our sources say prosecutors  are aware of the civil settlement negotiations.

We’re told Geragos may  have already sealed the deal but if not … it should be done in a day or  2.

So here’s the likely resolution.  The alleged victim gets a ton  of money (our educated guess is several hundred thousand dollars), D.C.  prosecutors drop the criminal assault case and the Rihanna judge then lets Chris  out of jail either late this week or early next.

Smart move.