Broken Bonds

Nov. 15, 2007 — -- Barry Bonds, one of the most powerful but most hated players in the history of baseball, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for perjury and obstruction of justice for lying to prosecutors probing steroid use in the Major Leagues.

Bonds is charged with lying when he told prosecutors he never knowingly took anabolic steroids given to him by trainer and longtime friend Greg Anderson.

Anderson, who served three months in prison after pleading guilty to steroids distribution, remained in jail for refusing to testify before the grand jury. But shortly after the indictment was announced, prosecutors ordered Anderson freed from prison.

"During the criminal investigation, evidence was obtained that included positive tests for the presence of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing substances for Bonds and other athletes," the indictment said.

Speculation has spread through the sports world for months that an indictment may be imminent. Still, Bonds' attorneys appeared to be caught off guard by the news.

"I am surprised," Bonds attorney, John Burris, told ABC News's Law & Justice Unit. "Unless there's evidence that I am not aware of, I never thought there was enough evidence to get a conviction. Maybe there's new evidence."

"I have cautioned him that these [indictments] can happen any day,'' Burris said. "When someone is doing an investigation, you have to be careful. You never know."

Burris said he was trying to contact his client. Bonds is charged with four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice, according to the indictment.

While he could technically face up to 30 years in prison if convicted, he would be more likely to serve "months to years, not decades,'' sentencing expert Doug Berman told ABC News, saying that the guidelines can create a "lot of uncertainty."

Bonds, who broke Hank Aaron's career home-run record last summer to considerable skepticism in the stands, also holds the season home-run record with 73. He ended last season with the San Francisco Giants, but his contract was not renewed, and he has not signed with a new team. The indictment was unsealed in federal court in San Francisco.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Allan (Bud) Selig released a statement saying that he takes the Bonds' situation "very seriously'' and insisted the sport has learned its lesson when it comes to doping.