SAN FRANCISCO, CA (RNN) – Former Major League Baseball star Barry Bonds has been sentenced to 30 days house arrest and two years probation for obstruction of justice.
Allen Ruby, one of Bond's attorneys, said the judgment from U.S. District Judge Susan Illston also included 250 hours of community service. He said prosecutors pushed for a prison sentence to punish the all-time home run record holder, but the judge agreed with a recommendation from the U.S. Probation Office.
Bonds, 47, walked out of the Federal courthouse around 2:45 p.m. ET and went directly to his vehicle without making a statement. However, attorney Dennis Riordan said his client would appeal the conviction so he could "return to public life."
"We absolutely believe that Barry was wrongly convicted of a felony offense," Riordan said.
The attorney also addressed the perjury charges Bonds had not been convicted of. The jury failed to reach a decision on the three charges at his trial in April.
Riordan said authorities had "dismissed" the counts, and they would pass the statute of limitation in approximately 60 days.
Several people reacted to the news with a similar sentiment: A trial related to an athlete's alleged steroid use was simply a waste of time.
"He surely is not a hero for how he has conducted his career and egotistical life," Sharon Mahan said. "But there are many and far more criminal acts than this. What a waste of the court's resources and the taxpayer's money."
Prosecutors had asked Illston to order Bonds to 15 months in prison, according to court filings.
His defense had requested the judge accept the recommendation from the Probation Office of two years probation, a $4,000 fine and 250 hours of community service.
In April, a jury found Bonds guilty of the charge regarding testimony in the BALCO laboratory investigation. Prosecutors argued he tried to be misleading when answering questions before a federal grand jury in 2003.
The BALCO lab was accused of distributing steroid products, including "the cream" and "the clear," topical steroids Bonds admitted using.
Attorneys for Bonds said he believed the ointments were flax seed oil, and he never knowingly used steroids. The jury could not reach a decision in April on three counts of perjury against the former San Francisco Giant slugger.
Bonds career spanned from 1986 to 2007 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Giants. The son of former player Bobby Bonds and godson of Hall of Famer Willie Mays owns the single-season home run record, as well.
Bonds eclipsed the previous mark of 70 when he hit 73 home runs in 2001. He eclipsed Hank Aaron's all-time record of 755 career home runs in 2007, and finished his career with 762.
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