Barry Bonds: Jury Says Bonds Guilty of Obstruction of Justice

The verdict is in. Barry Bonds is guilty.

While the jury of public opinion has determined that Bonds was guilty of knowingly taking steroids for years and lied about it, a federal court couldn’t seem to determine the same thing.

After four days of deliberation in the Barry Bonds trial, the jury could only render a verdict on one count, the obstruction of justice count, in the Barry Bonds perjury trial.

Federal Judge Susan Illston declared a mistrial on the remaining three counts, saying she believes the jury is at a crossroads and would be unable to reach a decision regarding the other three counts.

The perjury charges stemmed from a grand jury testimony he made in 2003 where he stated that he never knowingly took human growth hormone, and that he had never been injected by anyone other than his physician.

The statements Bonds made in his 2003 grand jury testimony were refuted by several of Bonds’ business partners and associates during the trial, but the questionable motives of these witnesses may have led the jury to deadlock.

The count of obstruction of justice, which Bonds was found guilty on, is in relation to him hindering the grand jury investigation into BALCO’s sports doping scandal by lying to the grand jury.  

The Los Angeles Times is reporting the maximum sentence for each count is 10 years in prison, but states most recommended sentences are between 15 and 21 months.

The LA Times is also reporting many legal experts believe Bonds is likely to get home confinement for the duration of his sentence. 

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/664527-barry-bonds-jury-says-bonds-guilty-of-obstruction-of-justice

Pat Burrell Jhan Marinez Anibal Sanchez John Baker Brad Davis Logan Morrison