Barry Bonds Gets a Slap on the Wrist, Manages to Avoid Jail Time

The Barry Bonds fiasco is finally over... at least for now.

Upon his conviction for giving "misleading testimony" (a.k.a. lying his ass off) before a grand jury investigating steroid use in sports, the Home Run King was sentenced to 30 days of house arrest, two years probation, a $4,000 fine, and 250 hours of community service on Friday. The federal judge cited his many charitable donations as part of the reason actual jail time seemed irrational.

The government's investigation into the secret steroids distribution ring centered around the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) has resulted in ten other convictions as well, including track star Marion Jones, who also lied to grand jurors; and Bonds’ personal trainer Greg Anderson, who pleaded guilty to steroid distribution charges.

Of course, Bonds is appealing the conviction rather than just dealing with it and being relieved that he wasn't handed the 15-21 months in the clinker that federal prosecutors were aiming for. The former San Francisco Giants superstar, whose sentence has been suspended, will remain a free man during the appeal process which will likely take at least a year.

Damn it Barry.

[Businessweek]