Earlier this year a federal jury convicted Barry Bonds on one count of obstruction of justice but deadlocked on several other counts, including, most notably, three perjury charges stemming from lying about his obvious use of steroids.
Back then virtually every legal commentator and sports analyst insisted that federal prosecutors would retry him on those deadlocked counts. By contrast, here’s what I said:
The only question now is whether federal prosecutors will retry Bonds on the perjury charges. But I think they’ve wasted enough federal resources prosecuting this victimless crime…
Not to mention that, even if they eventually get Bonds on all counts, the judge would probably sentence him to no more than 18 months (Martha was sentenced to only 5). Moreover, he’d probably be allowed to serve his time under home confinement (in one of the many mansions steroids bought him) just as others convicted pursuant to this misguided federal investigation have been allowed to do.
(Bonds now a convicted felon, The iPINIONS Journal, April 14, 2011)
Well it seems federal prosecutors agree with me that it would be a waste of time to retry him:
Federal prosecutors on Wednesday dropped all the remaining charges against Barry Bonds, days after a judge upheld the slugger’s conviction on an obstruction of justice count.
(Associated Press, August 31, 2011)
He faces 10 years, but now I suspect the judge will agree that a sentence of no more than 18 months, if not just probation, is more appropriate. He will be sentenced in December.
Related commentaries:
Bonds now a convicted felon
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