San Francisco, CA

Barry Bonds won't be going to jail for a felony charge of obstruction of justice.

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston sentenced Bonds to two years' probation, 30 days of house arrest and 250 hours of community service.

Bonds also was fined $4,000 by Illston for his conviction on obstructing a grand jury investigation into the BALCO doping scandal. He could have faced up to 21 months in prison.

Illston stayed the sentence while Bonds appeals his conviction despite objections of the prosecutors,

The seven-time National League Most Valuable Player did not comment on the sentencing and drove off in a black SUV after hugging and waving to some of his supporters outside the courtroom.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Parrella had argued that probation and house arrest amounted to a "slap on the wrist" for Bonds.

Bonds was convicted of the obstruction charge last April, although jurors were deadlocked on three other federal counts against him for lying to a federal grand jury.

Attorneys for Bonds had previously requested that the guilty verdict be thrown out based on the inability of the jury to reach consensus on the other charges, which included perjury.

In a 22-year career, Bonds batted .298 with 762 homers, 1,996 RBIs, 514 steals, 2,588 walks and a .607 slugging percentage. He played seven seasons with Pittsburgh before signing with San Francisco as a free agent after the 1992 season.

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