Legal Commentary

Miguel Tejada Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor in Steroids Case

By Jeralyn

Baseball's Miguel Tejada pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor of lying to Congress today. He faces up to a year in jail when sentenced on March 26.

Appearing before a federal magistrate, the 34-year-old starter for the Houston Astros admitted that he lied to congressional investigators who had asked about steroid use by major league ballplayers. Tejada also acknowledged purchasing the drugs while playing with the Oakland Athletics.

He said he had second thoughts and threw the drug away without using it. Prosecutors said they had no evidence to contradict his claim.

Sounds like a good deal for Tejada, who is expected to receive probation. [More...]

The New York Times reports:

In November 2005, the committee decided not to refer Palmeiro to the Justice Department for a perjury investigation. In January 2008, however, it did refer Tejada on allegations that he had lied when he told investigators he had never used performance-enhancing drugs and had no knowledge of his teammates’ use.

....It was not clear why federal prosecutors, who have evidence that Tejada had used steroids and human growth hormone, agreed to let him plead to lesser charges.

Marion Jones and Dana Stubblefield were required to plead to felonies.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on February 11, 2009 (boomark / email).