All-Star baseball player Miguel Tejada was taught a lesson by prosecutors Thursday that many people learn in childhood: Don’t lie.
The Houston Astros shortstop and former Baltimore Oriole was sentenced in the District’s federal court to one year of probation and 100 hours community service for lying to Congress during the steroids investigation.
The message sent by prosecutors in court to Tejada might reverberate for fellow baseball star Roger Clemens, whose own testimony regarding performance-enhancing drugs to Congress is currently being reviewed by a grand jury.
Tejada was facing a stiffer sentence before he pleaded guilty last month; he could have spent a year in prison and been fined up to $100,000. Prosecutors, however, requested a lighter sentence in light of his guilty plea.
Tejada is entering the final season of a six-year, $72 million contract with the Astros.
When Tejada stepped to the lectern Thursday, he was quick and to the point. “I take full responsibility,” he told U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Kay. “I apologize to the Congress and to the court and especially the kids.”
Tejada came under scrutiny after former teammate Rafael Palmeiro told a congressional panel that he tested positive for drugs because Tejada had given him a B-12 vitamin injection. Tejada was then questioned by investigators in a Baltimore hotel in 2005. He wasn’t under oath, but was advised his answers should be truthful. He told investigators he never knew of any other player using steroids.
“What people are not entitled to do, your honor, is to provide untruthful or dishonest answers,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Durham told Kay. “No one has that right. Not the people who are well-known — and not the people who are unknown.”
Tejada is the highest-profile player convicted of a crime linked to steroids use in baseball.
Kay waived drug testing, which is usually required for convicts on probation, and will not restrict Tejada’s travel.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
