Dec 16 2011
30-Days Home Confinement for Bonds after Years of Steroid Investigation
After almost a decade of steroid investigation, Baseball’s home run king only received 30 days home confinement. A decision that makes the government unhappy. The prosecution lamented that a home confinement is inappropriate and something of a slap on the wrist. They wanted at least one and a half years prison term for Barry Bonds. However, Judge Susan Illston followed the recommendation of the Probation Office.
Bonds’ case is the longest running steroid case in the history of professional sports in America. His conviction ended the most hype steroid investigation in the country but also led the government to spend millions of dollars for investigation and prosecution. Bonds was only convicted on the obstruction of justice count but was able to get away with other charges. The prosecution was not able to prove that the home run king knowingly used anabolic steroids and received injections of human growth hormone.
Sentence was to Lenient
Judge Illston gave Barry Bonds with 2 years probation, 30 days home confinement and required to perform 250 hours of community service and pay a $4,000 fine. According to a prosecutor, the fine is laughable and the home confinement in his Beverly Hills Mansion with 6 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, large swimming pool and other amenities will not in any way affect Bonds.
Legal experts already expected this to happen. Other prominent athletes involved in the BALCO steroid scandal also received similar sentences. Professional cyclist Tammy Thomas, NFL player Dana Stubblefield and track and field coach Trevor Graham received probation and home confinement for steroid perjury and obstruction of justice conviction. Bonds was the last of the defendants in this high profile case involving several personalities in professional sports.
According to Judge Illston, the conviction of Bonds is already an aberration in his life. The letters from private individuals also helped convince the Judge to give a lighter penalty. She cited the charitable acts of Bonds for decades. The Judge also said that the conviction did not demand for a stiffer sentence. “The jury got it exactly right here: Mr. Bonds made an effort to obstruct justice, but I also find he didn’t succeed,” said the Judge.
Sentence on Hold Pending Bonds’ Appeal
Another blow to the government’s effort to jail the home run king for his involvement in steroids is the decision of the judge to postpone the implementation of the sentence. Judge Illston also ruled that the sentence will be put on hold pending the appeal of Barry Bonds. Bonds’ lawyers told the media that an appeal will be filed immediately at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. They still believed that Bonds was wrongfully convicted of a felony.
An appeal would mean another legal battle for the government. According to legal experts, it would take at least another year to resolve this case in the Court of Appeals. If upheld, Bonds’ probation will only start on 2014. There is also a possibility that the conviction will be overturned.
Barry Bonds is already eligible in the 2013 Hall of Fame and voters will still weigh if Bonds deserves to be inducted in HOF. Other baseball stars involved or admitted to taking steroids are having a hard time getting the necessary votes to get to Cooperstown.
[...] of steroid-using players, the selection process won’t be nearly so clear. Such is the case of Barry Bonds who is implicated for steroid use and had been recently convicted for perjury. He was sentenced for [...]
[...] obstruction of justice verdict. An appeal was officially submitted in a US Court of Appeals after Bonds was sentenced to spend 30 days in home confinement with location monitoring. He was also obliged by the court to [...]