NFL's Chad 'Ochocinco' gets jail-time for butt slap

[Bay Boy]

Source: Newsday

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — A playful gesture from Chad Johnson inside a Florida courtroom has landed him in jail.

The former NFL receiver, who still hopes to make a comeback after being released by Miami last summer in training camp following a domestic dispute, was slapped with a 30-day jail sentence after slapping his attorney on the rear end.


Read more: http://www.policeone.com/corrections/articles/6269050-NFLs-Chad-Ocho-Cinco-gets-jail-time-for-butt-slap/

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Why would that cause a 30 day sentence?

[msanthrope]

1. Because he upset the order of the courtroom and pissed off the judge. I don't agree with the

sentence but I understand why he got it. If I were his attorney I would have him write a personal letter of apology to the judge, and ask for a reappearance.

[Bay Boy]

2. Was his attorney offended?

For an athlete I imagine it's just a common reaction.

[msanthrope]

3. Doesn't matter---it's the judge you've got to worry about. nt

[Unknown Beatle]

4. More from the article

But after Circuit Court Judge Kathleen McHugh told Johnson he should thank his attorney (Adam Swickle) for doing a "great job for you," Johnson patted Swickle on the butt.

There's a difference between a slap and a pat. Regardless, Chad is a football player and they congratulate each other (football players) by patting each other in the butt. The judge lacks a sense of humor if it was okay with his attorney about the pat.

[DinahMoeHum]

5. Why? Contempt of court.

n/t

[TexasTowelie]

7. You got it.

See post #6.

[panzerfaust]

17. Perhaps he should learn to keep his hands to himself?

Certainly am not a lawyer, but I do think that in most states his conduct would count as assault. So a 30 day contempt of court finding might be more than he deserved.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

18. I honestly don't think the lawyer cared.

Hell, the court's own deputies didn't seem to mind.

While the underlying charges were indeed serious, I think the judge's action as it relates to this particularly was an extreme overreach.

[TexasTowelie]

6. The judge felt that Johnson was disrespectful to the court.

“I don’t know that you’re taking this whole thing seriously. I just saw you slap your attorney on the backside. Is there something funny about this?” McHugh said, slapping the plea deal document down on her desk. “The whole courtroom was laughing. I’m not going to accept these plea negotiations. This isn’t a joke.”

Johnson, 35, tried to apologize and insisted he meant no disrespect. Johnson was on probation after pleading no contest to head-butting his then-wife, TV reality star Evelyn Lozada, during an altercation last August. She quickly filed for divorce after barely a month of marriage and Johnson, a six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, was immediately released by the Miami Dolphins. He didn’t play at all last season.

“This is your courtroom. I have no intent to make this a joke. It’s not funny,” Johnson told the judge “My life is in a shambles right now and I try my best to laugh and keep a smile on my face.”

But McHugh, who could have given Johnson up to a year in jail, was not moved.

“It’s not the first time he’s behaved that way in my courtroom,” she said.

http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/2013/06/free-agent-receiver-chad-johnson-to-serve-30-days-in-jail/

[Baclava]

8. Chad's juvenile attention antics cost him yet again.

Stand there, say 'yes, your honor' and walk out.

[Ash_F]

10. What kind of a monster headbutts a woman?

He didn't deserve parole in the first place.

[rastaone]

11. Have you ever seen the show Basketball wives?

The lady she headbutted is a complete nutcase. This lady starts fights all the time on the show and has clobbered her show mates several times on camera. Not saying that she deserved it but I can see Chad trying to defend himself from a crazy lazy.

[Ash_F]

12. I don't know if he tried to make a case for self-defense

but a headbutt is rather gratuitous way to defend yourself. And no I haven't seen the show, sounds dumb.

[Skittles]

13. more time than the people who started senseless wars and crashed the economy

yup

[Botany]

14. he already was on thin ice .....

.... he had gone out of state and he had violated his parole by missing
a meeting w/his P.O.. The son of bitch could have worn a tie and tucked in his
shirt too he was in court and not on a made for t.v. reality show.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

15. Not condoning the underlying actions by Johnson in any sense, but the judge's reaction was insane.

Those in the profession such as myself know that there are some judges that have a God Complex, and will ream parties and attorneys alike for the most trivial of actions, such as this one. They'll chalk it up to "decorum," but unless we are dealing with an openly contemptuous behavior from an individual (i.e. shouting at the judge or being out and out disrespectful), it's nothing more than needless bullying on a judge's part.

It appears this particular judge is a prime example of this.


Broward County. Based on my own personal experience, I'm not all that surprised (Many of Broward's judges are buffoons, pure and simple), although I'm a little surprised it wasn't another Broward judge who I have known to acted similarly.

[Safetykitten]

16. Hilarious and well deserved. Judge makes excellent call.