Former NFL receiver Chad Johnson was sentenced on Monday to 30 days in jail for violating his probation. The judge angrily rejected Johnson's no-jail plea deal after he jokingly smacked his lawyer on the rear in court, the Associated Press reports.
Johnson had reached a deal with prosecutors to allow for community service and counseling instead of jail time. Broward County Circuit Judge Kathleen McHugh then asked if Johnson was satisfied with his lawyer, to which he jokingly slapped his lawyer on the backside. The courtroom broke in to laughter, which angered the judge. She felt Johnson thought the proceedings for his domestic violence case were a joke and sentenced the receiver to 30 days in jail.
"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, slamming 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 tried to apologize and assure her he meant no disrespect.
"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 shambles right now and I try my best to laugh and keep a smile on my face."
"It's not the first time he's behaved that way in my courtroom," she replied.
The receiver then was handcuffed and taken to jail.
Johnson was on probation after pleading no contest last August to a domestic violence altercation involving his then-wife, Evelyn Lozada. She told police Johnson, who was then with the Miami Dolphins, had head-butted her.
He appeared in court on Monday after failing to meet with his probation officer during the previous three months. The judge had planned to give Johnson an additional three months of probation for the infraction, but his carefree attitude in court angered her enough to suddenly reject the deal.
Now the question is whether Johnson will ever play in NFL again. Johnson, 35, made six Pro Bowls with the Cincinnati Bengals between 2001 and 2010. He had a dismal season in 2011 with the New England Patriots, who ultimately released him the following offseason. The Dolphins gave him a shot in 2012, but quickly cut him in August after his domestic violence arrest.
Today's incident lessens Johnson's chances of finding a home in the NFL. ESPN reported Johnson initially scoffed at the idea of playing in the Canadian Football League, but now he might not have any other options.
ESPN's "First Take" debates Johnson's behavior and future in the NFL: