Summary: O.J. Simpson is going before the parole board today to seek an early release for armed robbery, kidnapping, and assault charges in 2008.
The notorious O.J. Simpson will be going before the parole board today to ask for his freedom. The former football star and convicted felon has served the minimum nine years for armed robbery and kidnapping of what could be a 33-year sentence. He has to convince four of the six parole board members that he should be released in October from Lovelock Correctional Center.
Simpson, currently known as inmate No. 1027820 was convicted in 2008 of enlisting two men with guns that he barely knew to take back sports collectibles from two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room that he claims were taken from him over ten years ago.
In 2013, he told parole officials, “My crime was trying to retrieve for my family my own property.” He quickly added, “Make no mistake, I would give it all back to get these last five years back.” During this parole hearing, the state commissioners granted parole on 12 of the charges so he would only have to serve four more years until he reached the minimum term. Simpson claimed that he went to the hotel room to get his possessions back, not knowing the other guys with him were armed. He said during sentencing, “I wasn’t there to hurt anybody. I just wanted my personal things, and I realize now that was stupid of me. I am sorry.”
Some have questioned his strict sentence as “payback” for being acquitted in the 1995 murder trial of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend. He was still found liable in civil court for their deaths, ordered to pay $33.5 million to the survivors, which includes his children and the family of the friend Ronald Goldman. His family believes he got away with murder.
Retired district attorney David Roger prosecuted Simpson for the armed robbery charge. He denies the sentence being “payback,” explaining that Simpson took a gamble when he rejected an offer of 2.5 years if he pleaded guilty to the felony and avoided trial. Roger said, “He thought he was invincible, and he rolled the dice.”
Overall, Simpson has a good chance of being released early for good behavior from the medium-security prison sitting in the Nevada desert. He has stayed out of trouble, counsels other inmates, and coaches in the prison gym. Spokeswoman Brooke Keast of the Nevada Department of Corrections stated, “Simpson has stayed out of trouble here. We haven’t heard much from him.”
Now 70-years-old, he must explain to the board what he will do and where he will go upon being released. He is being supported by his attorney Malcolm LaVergne, his longtime friend Tom Scotto, his sister Shirley Baker, and his daughter Arnelle Simpson. One of the robbery victims, Bruce Fromong, will testify on behalf of Simpson because he felt the sentence didn’t match the crime and “it’s the right thing to do.”
If Simpson is not able to convince a majority of the board members to grant him parole, he will have to wait six months to try again.
Do you think Simpson will be successful at proving he won’t re-offend? Tell us in the comments below.
To learn more about O.J. Simpson’s story, read these articles:
- Knife Found on OJ Simpson Estate Turned in Years Later
- O.J. Simpson’s Lawyers File Appeal for Armed Robbery Case
- Whatever Happened to O.J. Simpson’s “Dream Team?”
Photo: flickr.com