Barry Bonds Sentenced to Probation, House Arrest; No Jail Time

Sentencing was handed down in the Barry Bonds obstruction of justice case yesterday.  Bonds, Major League Baseball’s all-time home runs leader, was not sentenced to serve any jail time, but instead could face two years’ probation and 30 days’ house arrest.  The sentence that was handed down Friday will be put on hold as Bonds and his representation are preparing to enter the appeal process.

Yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston handed down the sentence, which included no jail times for Bonds.

The prosecution was reportedly pressing for a ruling that would require Bonds to spend 15 months behind bars for his crimes that struck “at the core of our system”.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthey Parrella said that Bonds had engaged in “years of performance-enhancing drug use, steroid use and lying about it in the media and to others”, noting that Bonds “made an awful lot of money as a result”.  Parrella wanted Bonds to receive the same treatment as former track star Marion Jones, who received a sentence of six months in jail for lying to federal investigators.

But the court decided otherwise.

Instead of being sentenced to jail time, Bonds could potentially be required to be on probation for two years, spend 30 days in house arrest, provide 250 hours of youth-related community service and pay a $4,000 fine and a $100 assessment fee.

Parrella called the $4,000 fine “laughable” for someone like Bonds.  He also noted that Bonds’ confinement to his 15,000-square-foot home was simply a “slap on the wrist”.

The reason the word ‘potentially’ has to be used when referring to the sentencing is because Bonds and his representation will appeal the decision.  While the appeal process is conducted, which could take a year and a half, Bonds will be free on bail.