Barry Bonds dodged a bullet in court today when a judge in San Francisco sentenced him to 30 days of house arrest and two years probation for providing misleading testimony to a grand jury.
The former Giants left fielder was convicted in April of providing evasive answers to questions about steroids in the sports doping scandal dating back to December 2003.
The federal judge also ordered the former MLB player to perform 250 hours of community service and pay a $4,000 fine.
Then U.S. District Judge Susan Illston stayed the entire sentence pending an appeal by the defense that could take a year or more. Bonds and his legal team have 14 days to file his intention to appeal his conviction.
Prosecutors wanted to see the home run king spend 15 months in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Parrella had argued prior to sentencing, “Home confinement isn’t punishment enough for a man with a 15,000 square foot house with all the advantages.”
Bonds, 47, lives on an estate in the exclusive gated community of Beverly Park in Beverly Hills.
The legendary slugger retired in 2007 and remains the Major League Baseball career leader with 762 home runs.
Photo: WENN