Fort Lauderdale, FL – Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson was released from jail Monday after apologizing to a judge for his court room behavior last week.
Johnson was sentenced to 30 days in jail last Monday during a hearing in front of Broward County Circuit Judge Kathleen McHugh, who assessed the jail term after Johnson playfully slapped his attorney's butt for his good work during a probation violation hearing.
Johnson apologized to the judge after a week in jail on Monday and was ordered an immediate release.
McHugh was set to keep Johnson out of jail before the butt slap, but reversed her decision, saying the former receiver was not taking the situation seriously.
"I had a lot of time to reflect, a lot of time to think where I've been, where I'm at now, where I'm going," Johnson told a number of reporters. "I have to make my next move my best move.
"A lot of people have tried to get me to slow down in life, coaches, agent, lawyer. There was one person that was able to do it and that was my judge, Ms. McHugh."
As part of the recent plea agreement, Johnson will be required to perform 25 hours of community service and undergo two counseling sessions a week. His probation was extended for another three months through mid-October.
The 35-year-old Johnson was in court last week for failing to appear before his probation officer. He was given probation last August after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor domestic battery charge against his former wife, an action which prompted his release from the Miami Dolphins.
Johnson, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, did not play during the 2012 season following his release. He had signed with Miami in the summer of 2012 after playing the 2011 season with New England and starred for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2001-10.
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