Bonds pleads innocent to 14 perjury counts

SAN FRANCISCO, June 6 (UPI) -- Baseball star Barry Bonds was in a San Francisco courtroom Friday where he pleaded innocent to 15 charges stemming from a federal steroids investigation.

The home run king is charged with 14 counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice for allegedly lying about using steroids during a 2003 grand jury hearing in the so-called Balco scandal.

The charges were contained in a new indictment handed down in March after the original six-count indictment was tossed out by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, who continues to handle the case.

The San Jose Mercury News said Friday's proceedings got the Bonds matter back on track toward trial, although anticipated legal wrangling will probably delay the start of the trial until next year.

Meanwhile, the 43-year-old Bonds remains a free agent and is staying in shape in hopes he can sign on to another team sometime this season.