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Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson was an incredibly entertaining wide receiver during his time in the NFL, but he’s just one of many football players who had some issues staying out of trouble during his time in the league.
For example, he was once hit with a lawsuit over a raffle that seemingly never existed and faced domestic violence charges that brought his marriage to an end and eventually landed him in jail over a light-hearted joke that did not land with the judge presiding over his trial.
The incident in question unfolded a couple of years after Johnson proposed to Evelyn Lozado (who’d been a staple on the VH1 series Basketball Wives prior to that point).
Johnson had signed with the Dolphins in June of 2012 around a month before they tied the knot, but less than two weeks into August he was released by the team after he was arrested and charged with domestic battery after head-butting Lozado during an argument (a development that also marked the end of his NFL career).
While Lozado filed for divorce the following month, it initially appeared the wide receiver was going to stay out of jail after reaching a plea deal. However, that did not turn out to be the case.
Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson got sent to jail for 30 days for patting his attorney on the butt
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Johnson’s divorce was finalized on September 19, 2012, and two days later, he pleaded no contest to the charges that were brought against him in exchange for a year of probation.
While the man widely referred to as “Ochocinco” was expected to meet with his probation officer on a monthly basis and provide proof he’d completed a court-required domestic violence intervention class, he ended up back in front of a judge on June 10, 2013 after his failure to meet those requirements led to a warrant being issued for his arrest.
It initially appeared Johnson had been able to avoid ending up behind bars yet again after agreeing to yet another deal that would’ve required him to do some community service and go through counseling.
The wideout had hired attorney Adam Swickle to represent him and orchestrate the deal, and after Broward County Circuit Judge Kathleen McHugh asked Johnson if he was satisfied with the arrangement, he confirmed he was while giving his lawyer a playful pat on his backside.
While that’s a pretty standard way to show appreciation on the gridiron, it apparently doesn’t fly in court, as McHugh used the move as an excuse to sentence Johnson to jail for 30 days.
While most of the people in the room laughed when Johnson hit Swickle with the love tap, McHugh was decidedly unamused, saying,
“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?”
Johnson attempted to plead his case while explaining his rationale, as he told McHugh, “My life is in shambles right now and I try my best to laugh and keep a smile on my face.” Unfortunately, she failed to see the humor in the situation. and he was subsequently detained and sent off to a cell.
I can understand where McHugh was coming from, but at the same time, you’ve got to give Johnson the benefit of the doubt here. We’re talking about a man who plays football for a living, and even though it might be a little weird, patting other dudes on the butt is how players show their appreciation for each other.
When everything was said and done, Johnson got another chance to formally apologize for his actions and was freed after spending seven days in jail after having a week to deliver one of the strangest answers possible when other inmates asked him “So, what are you in for?”