Broward County Circuit Judge Kathleen McHugh accepted an apology from former NFL star Chad Johnson Monday and will release him from jail, commuting his 30-day sentence to seven days.
Johnson apologized for lack of respect in the courtroom stemming from his behavior during a probation sentencing hearing when he slapped his attorney on the backside last week. The attorney, Adam Swickle, told McHugh that the rear-end slap was just a Johnson’s way of saying thanks.
Johnson was initially in court on charges of violating his probation for a domestic altercation with his then-wife, reality TV star Evelyn Lozada. Johnson pleaded no contest to the assault charges and was sentenced to probation, but reportedly missed meetings with his probation officer.
After reaching a deal last week with prosecutors for community service and counseling to resolve the probation violation, the agreement was rejected by McHugh after the infamous backside pat.
“This isn’t a joke,” McHugh said at the time.
Johnson’s former teammate Terrell Owens visited him in jail, saying the man formerly known as Chad Ochocinco was “in good spirits,” in a Twitter post.
“Just visited the homie @ochocinco. He’s in good spirits, he needs a haircut already tho. Lol. He sends his best regards to everyone,” Owens wrote.
“I really didn’t know what to expect but to see the homie locked up is a very humbling experience, to talk to him via vid conference let me know that’s not where anyone wants to be. I know he’s only in the county jail but to someone that has never been locked up…Jail is Jail!”
Johnson is expected to be released today.