SAN FRANCISCO – On Wednesday, a jury found Barry Bonds guilty of obstruction for giving an evasive answer under oath more than seven years ago. Rather than say yes or no to whether he received drugs that required a syringe, Bonds gave a response to a grand jury stating he became a “celebrity child with a famous father.”

The decision from the eight women and four men turned out to be a mixed and muddled verdict on the slugger that left more questions than answers.

A mistrial was declared on the three charges that Bonds made false statements when he told a grand jury in December 2003 that he never knowingly received steroids and human growth hormone from trainer Greg Anderson and that he allowed only doctors to inject him.

Defense lawyer will try to persuade the 9th U. S. Circuit court of Appeals to toss out the lone conviction. Federal prosecutors must decide whether it is worth the time and expense ($7 million) to try Bonds for a second time on the deadlocked charges.

At the age of 46, Bonds faces up to 10 years in prison on the obstruction conviction, but federal guidelines call for 15 to 21 months.

Bonds walked out of the courtroom smiling.