Former Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens smiles as he speaks to members of the media outside federal court in Washington, Monday, June 18, 2012. Clemens was acquitted on all charges by a jury that decided that he didn't lie to Congress when he denied using performance -enhancing drugs. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens smiles as he speaks to members of the media outside federal court in Washington, Monday, June 18, 2012. Clemens was acquitted on all charges by a jury that decided that he didn't lie to Congress when he denied using performance -enhancing drugs. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2007, file photo, New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens throws against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning of a baseball game in Detroit. Clemens was acquitted on all charges, Monday, June 18, 2012, by a jury that decided he didn't lie to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson, File)
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens and his wife Debbie Clemens leave a news conference outside federal court in Washington, Monday, June 18, 2012, after he was acquitted on all charges by a jury that decided that he didn't lie to Congress when he denied using performance -enhancing drugs. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Roger Clemens rejected a plea deal that would have spared him prison time, and instead took his chances by going to trial.
Clemens lawyer Rusty Hardin said in a telephone interview Thursday that prosecutors offered to let the former pitcher plead guilty to one count of lying to Congress when he denied using human growth hormone. In exchange, Clemens would have received probation.
The seven-time Cy Young Award winner was indicted in August 2010 on six counts for allegedly lying to Congress for denying he used HGH as well as steroids. At the time, Hardin revealed that his client had rejected a plea offer, but the lawyer declined to provide the details.
In the interview Thursday, Hardin said his client was offered the deal in December 2009 and immediately rejected it.
"His reason was, 'I didn't lie to Congress,'" Hardin said. On Monday, a jury in Washington acquitted Clemens on all counts.
Under U.S. sentencing guidelines, Clemens probably would have faced up to 15 months to 21 months in prison if convicted.
The first attempt to try Clemens last year ended in a mistrial when prosecutors played a snippet of video evidence that had previously been ruled inadmissible, and U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton indicated back then that Clemens was looking at jail time.
Explaining why he was calling a mistrial, Walton said, "Because if this man got convicted, from my perspective, knowing how I sentence, he goes to jail. And I'm not going to, under the circumstances, when this has happened, put this man's liberty in jeopardy."
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia declined comment.
___
Follow Fred Frommer on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ffrommer
Associated Presself on a shelf elf on a shelf carrier iq carrier iq linda perry world aids day horse slaughter
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.