SKOKIE, Ill. – Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson on Thursday was sentenced to 120 days in jail by Cook County Circuit Court Judge John J. Moran for a probation violation stemming from a 2005 gun charge.

Johnson was arrested and charged Dec. 14 with six misdemeanor counts of possession of a firearm without a Firearm Owner’s Identification card after Gurnee police served a search warrant on his home.

The 25-year-old was on probation at the time after he had pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge that resulted after a nightclub valet alerted police about seeing a gun in Johnson’s car.

Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson arrives at court Thursday afternoon in Skokie.

Johnson was immediately taken into custody after Moran delivered the sentence, which also included a $2,500 fine and 84 days of home confinement that have already been served.

With good behavior, Johnson is expected to serve half of the sentence, or 60 days. He could have received up to a year in jail.

Despite the ruling, Johnson’s job with the Bears remains secure.

“We continue our support of Tank and he will remain a member of our football team,” the team said in a statement. “Tank has made many positive changes to better his life. We believe he will continue on this path at the conclusion of his sentence.”

Bears coach Lovie Smith and All-Pro middle linebacker Brian Urlacher were among those who testified on Johnson’s behalf during Thursday’s proceedings, which lasted two and a half hours.

Smith described Johnson as a very personable, pleasant and friendly person who often took advantage of the coach’s open-door policy to chat about a variety of different subjects.

"He's a guy you want to talk to," Smith said. “He’s a great teammate who is liked by all of our players."

The Bears coach said the prospect of going to jail would be “devastating in the short and long term” for Johnson.

“I see the change in Tank,” Smith said. “He’s ready to move on with his life and be a positive person. Tank Johnson is a good guy. I know that. No one has to tell me that. That’s why I’m down here testifying on his behalf.”

Urlacher spoke about a meeting late last season during which all five Bears’ team captains urged Smith not to cut Johnson. The gathering took place after the notorious incident at the Ice Bar.

William Posey, the man arrested at Johnson’s home during the search and charged with felony marijuana possession, was shot and killed at the club. Johnson was present, and although he was not directly involved in the incident, he was suspended by the Bears for one game for showing poor judgment.

“All five of us put our necks on the line,” Urlacher said. “He’s part of our family. Tank’s not a bad guy. He’s made some bad decisions, but he’s still a good guy. I don’t think he’s a criminal. He’s a good person. He’s doing the right thing and he’s a good friend of mine.”

Johnson closed the proceedings by making an eloquent and passionate statement to the court. He discussed how a difficult childhood had forced him to develop leadership skills and shaped him as a man and a father. He described himself as humble and big-hearted with an infectious personality.

Johnson spoke glowingly of his two young daughters and indicated that he intends to marry his fiancée. He admitted that he’s made some mistakes but stressed that he’s never hurt another human being and loves interacting with all people.

Given the nature of Johnson’s transgression and the support he received—one former high school teacher and football coach traveled all the way from Arizona to testify on his behalf—attorney Lorna Propes was stunned by the decision.

“I think this sentence was unnecessarily harsh for this young man,” Propes said. “I do not believe the court adequately or even really at all considered the testimony that came in in his behalf. It is largely unheard of for a person with a similar charge to get this kind of sentence.”

Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Rick Cenar disagreed.

“We think it was a fair and appropriate sentence,” Cenar said. “That’s what we were recommending; some time in Cook County Jail. He was on probation and we felt that to give another sentence of probation would deprecate the seriousness of the new offense.”

Propes is convinced that Johnson’s status as a professional football player impacted the case.

“The fact that he’s a celebrity complicates the matter,” she said. “When was the last time that the head prosecutor came down to handle a misdemeanor violation of probation case instead of just letting the courtroom lawyers do that? That never happens.

“This case came down so much harder on him than it would on anybody else. I can’t say that it’s because he was a Chicago Bear. I don’t know why it is. All I’m saying to you is he was treated far more harshly. I challenge you all to go find another misdemeanor case of this type handled in this way.”