The federal government’s BALCO steroid investigation came to an end with the sentencing of Barry Bonds on Friday. Judge Susan Illston sentenced Bonds to two years probation, 30 days home confinement, 250 hours community service and a $4,000 fine. The light sentence was widely expected based on Judge Illston’s previous sentencing in other BALCO-related perjury cases.
A federal jury found Bonds guilty of obstruction of justice on April 13, 2011. Bonds was essentially cleared of three perjury charges after prosecutors failed to convince a majority of the jurors that Bonds knowingly used anabolic steroids or human growth hormone (hGH). This proved to be somewhat of an embarrassment for the government in spite of efforts to spin it as a victory.
The government reportedly spent more than $75 million dollars pursuing the Bonds’ steroid case according to Darren Rovell, the host for CNBC’s Sports Biz. But they only managed to get probation for their target. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Parrella had hoped the judge would put Bonds in prison for 15 months. But no such luck for Parrella.
Parrella lamented that the sentence only represented a “slap on the wrist”. And he was right.
Bonds was also sentenced to home confinement in his exclusive, multi-million dollar California mansion for 30 days.
“A $4,000 fine is almost laughable for a man with a 50,000 square foot house,” Parrella told Judge Illston.
No one is laughing at Barry Bonds.
But the government’s recovery of $4,000 after investing $75,000,000 prosecuting the case is laughable.
Judge Illston defended the light sentence by highlighting the petty nature of his crime when compared to other serious examples of obstruction of justice.
“His behavior was illegal and criminal, but different from other examples of obstruction like threatening witnesses or firebombing witnesses’ houses,” explained Illston.
Furthermore, Judge Illston considered Bonds’ actions “aberrant behavior from an otherwise law-abiding lifestyle” which included several private donations to charities.
Bonds will remain free (from being forced to house arrest in his 50,000 square foot mansion) while his attorneys appeal the decision.
Photo source: twitter.com/JeffPassan
Source:
Dinzeo, M. (December 16, 2011). Barry Bonds Won’t Serve Time in Steroid Case. Retrieved from http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/12/16/42325.htm
Darren Rovell,Twitter. (December 16, 2011). “The US government has reportedly spent more than $75 MILLION to get Barry Bonds a sentence of probation & house arrest.” Retrieved from https://twitter.com/#!/darrenrovell/status/147769403331706880
