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O.J. Simpson, left, and his lawyer Yale Galanter appear during his sentencing hearing at the Clark County Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Friday, Dec. 5, 2008. O.J. Simpson, who was acquitted of the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife and her friend in Los Angeles, has been sentenced to at least 15 years in prison in a Las Vegas armed robbery case. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken, Pool)
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O.J. Simpson sentenced to as much as 33 years
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A broken O.J. Simpson was sentenced Friday to as much as 33 years in prison for a hotel armed robbery after a judge rejected his apology and said, "It was much more than stupidity."
The 61-year-old football Hall of Famer stood shackled and stone-faced as Judge Jackie Glass rattled off the punishment. Moments before, Simpson made a rambling, five-minute plea for leniency, simultaneously apologizing for the holdup as a foolish mistake and trying to justify his actions.
He choked back tears as he told her: "I didn’t want to steal anything from anyone. ... I’m sorry, sorry."
Simpson said he was simply trying to retrieve sports memorabilia and other mementos, including his first wife’s wedding ring, from two dealers when he stormed a Las Vegas hotel room on Sept. 13, 2007.
But the judge emphasized that it was a violent confrontation in which at least one gun was drawn, and she said someone could have been shot. She said the evidence was overwhelming, with the planning, the confrontation itself and the aftermath all recorded on audio or videotape.
Glass, a no-nonsense judge known for her tough sentences, imposed such a complex series of consecutive and concurrent sentences that even many attorneys watching the case were confused as to how much time Simpson got.
Simpson could serve up to 33 years but could be eligible for parole after nine years, according to Elana Roberto, the judge’s clerk.
The judge said several times that her sentence in the Las Vegas case had nothing to do with Simpson’s 1995 acquittal in the slaying of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
"I’m not here to try and cause any retribution or any payback for anything else," Glass said.
Simpson was immediately led away to prison after the judge refused to permit him to go free on bail while he appeals.
Simpson’s co-defendant and former golfing buddy, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, also was sentenced to at least 15 years.
Outside court, Goldman’s father, Fred Goldman, and sister, Kim, said they were delighted with the sentence.
"We are thrilled, and it’s a bittersweet moment," Fred Goldman said. "It was satisfying seeing him in shackles like he belongs."
The Goldmans took a measure of credit for Simpson’s fate, saying their relentless pursuit of his assets to satisfy a $33.5 million wrongful-death judgment "pushed him over the edge" and led him to commit the robbery to recover some of his sports memorabilia.
Simpson and Stewart were both brought to the courtroom in dark blue jail uniforms, their hands shackled to their waists with chains. Simpson, who looked weary and had not been expected to speak, delivered a somber statement to the judge.
As he spoke in a hoarse voice, the courtroom was hushed. His two sisters, Shirley Baker and Carmelita Durio, sat in the front row of the courtroom, along with his adult daughter.
Both men were convicted Oct. 3 of 12 criminal charges, including kidnapping and armed robbery.
"As stupid and as ill-conceived as it was, it wasn’t something that was from this evil mind they teach us about," Simpson attorney Yale Galanter said before sentencing.
"Not bright, not smart, not well thought out, but certainly not from an evil mind," Galanter said.
Most of the 63 seats in the courtroom were taken by media, lawyers and family members of the defendants. Fifteen members of the public were also allowed.
After sentencing was over, the Goldmans left the courtroom and Kim threw her arms around her father and wept.
Simpson’s sisters declined to comment, but Shirley Baker said on her way out: "It’s not over."
Jurors who heard 13 days of testimony said after the verdict that they were convinced of Simpson’s guilt because of audio recordings that were secretly made of the Sept. 13, 2007, robbery at the Palace Station casino hotel.
The confrontation involved sports memorabilia brokers Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong. It was recorded by collectibles dealer Thomas Riccio, who was acting as middleman.
"Don’t let nobody out of this room!" Simpson commands on the recordings, and instructs other men to scoop up items he insists had been stolen from him.
On Tuesday, Glass is scheduled to sentence four former co-defendants who took plea deals and testified against Simpson and Stewart.
Michael McClinton, Charles Cashmore, Walter Alexander and Charles Ehrlich could receive probation or prison time. McClinton could get up to 11 years; the others face less.
The 61-year-old football Hall of Famer stood shackled and stone-faced as Judge Jackie Glass rattled off the punishment. Moments before, Simpson made a rambling, five-minute plea for leniency, simultaneously apologizing for the holdup as a foolish mistake and trying to justify his actions.
He choked back tears as he told her: "I didn’t want to steal anything from anyone. ... I’m sorry, sorry."
Simpson said he was simply trying to retrieve sports memorabilia and other mementos, including his first wife’s wedding ring, from two dealers when he stormed a Las Vegas hotel room on Sept. 13, 2007.
But the judge emphasized that it was a violent confrontation in which at least one gun was drawn, and she said someone could have been shot. She said the evidence was overwhelming, with the planning, the confrontation itself and the aftermath all recorded on audio or videotape.
Glass, a no-nonsense judge known for her tough sentences, imposed such a complex series of consecutive and concurrent sentences that even many attorneys watching the case were confused as to how much time Simpson got.
Simpson could serve up to 33 years but could be eligible for parole after nine years, according to Elana Roberto, the judge’s clerk.
The judge said several times that her sentence in the Las Vegas case had nothing to do with Simpson’s 1995 acquittal in the slaying of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
"I’m not here to try and cause any retribution or any payback for anything else," Glass said.
Simpson was immediately led away to prison after the judge refused to permit him to go free on bail while he appeals.
Simpson’s co-defendant and former golfing buddy, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, also was sentenced to at least 15 years.
Outside court, Goldman’s father, Fred Goldman, and sister, Kim, said they were delighted with the sentence.
"We are thrilled, and it’s a bittersweet moment," Fred Goldman said. "It was satisfying seeing him in shackles like he belongs."
The Goldmans took a measure of credit for Simpson’s fate, saying their relentless pursuit of his assets to satisfy a $33.5 million wrongful-death judgment "pushed him over the edge" and led him to commit the robbery to recover some of his sports memorabilia.
Simpson and Stewart were both brought to the courtroom in dark blue jail uniforms, their hands shackled to their waists with chains. Simpson, who looked weary and had not been expected to speak, delivered a somber statement to the judge.
As he spoke in a hoarse voice, the courtroom was hushed. His two sisters, Shirley Baker and Carmelita Durio, sat in the front row of the courtroom, along with his adult daughter.
Both men were convicted Oct. 3 of 12 criminal charges, including kidnapping and armed robbery.
"As stupid and as ill-conceived as it was, it wasn’t something that was from this evil mind they teach us about," Simpson attorney Yale Galanter said before sentencing.
"Not bright, not smart, not well thought out, but certainly not from an evil mind," Galanter said.
Most of the 63 seats in the courtroom were taken by media, lawyers and family members of the defendants. Fifteen members of the public were also allowed.
After sentencing was over, the Goldmans left the courtroom and Kim threw her arms around her father and wept.
Simpson’s sisters declined to comment, but Shirley Baker said on her way out: "It’s not over."
Jurors who heard 13 days of testimony said after the verdict that they were convinced of Simpson’s guilt because of audio recordings that were secretly made of the Sept. 13, 2007, robbery at the Palace Station casino hotel.
The confrontation involved sports memorabilia brokers Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong. It was recorded by collectibles dealer Thomas Riccio, who was acting as middleman.
"Don’t let nobody out of this room!" Simpson commands on the recordings, and instructs other men to scoop up items he insists had been stolen from him.
On Tuesday, Glass is scheduled to sentence four former co-defendants who took plea deals and testified against Simpson and Stewart.
Michael McClinton, Charles Cashmore, Walter Alexander and Charles Ehrlich could receive probation or prison time. McClinton could get up to 11 years; the others face less.
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Timberlake wrote on Dec 5, 2008 3:37 PM:
" Do not pass "GO". Proceed immediately to jail. Justice is served. "
unionlabel wrote on Dec 5, 2008 4:09 PM:
" Should white people laugh & cheer...perhaps run out to the street in celebration now that the "Juice" has been found guilty...or would that be racist? "
homer5r20 wrote on Dec 5, 2008 5:01 PM:
" HEY...leave O.J. alone...he's been busy looking for the real killers and making money to pay the Goldmans...who's going to carry on his job now???????? "
fordman1962 wrote on Dec 5, 2008 5:12 PM:
" He's finally where he belongs. Hopefully he will rot there. "
Mr knowitall wrote on Dec 5, 2008 5:19 PM:
" When OJ was not found guilty the first time he should have sat down and had a beer and been thankful, He got what he deserved this time. Also lets keep race out of this, there are so many tough people sitting behind there computers making negative statements, lets just say what we gotta say and keep each other entertained.. "
IowaHawk1969 wrote on Dec 5, 2008 6:54 PM:
" I am glad to see his is going to jail finally but I also feel guilty cause this is really not what he should be going to jail for. is it fair to punish him for something when almost everyone wanted him to be going to jail for the murders of his ex and Ron G. I dont think what he did this time was a 33 year sentence kind of crime. "
Timberlake wrote on Dec 5, 2008 9:50 PM:
" IowaHawk69. Huh? Feel guilty? This is what happens when people break the law while using a firearm. Perhaps you'd feel differently had someone stuck a pistol in your face, held you against your will and threatened you with your life. Think about that for 2 seconds.
I thought the judge gave a very good explanation for her sentencing and very well distanced the court from any bias relative OJ's previous notoriety.
You seem to have a problem separating Simpson's two major brushes with the law. "
I thought the judge gave a very good explanation for her sentencing and very well distanced the court from any bias relative OJ's previous notoriety.
You seem to have a problem separating Simpson's two major brushes with the law. "
waterloo wrote on Dec 5, 2008 10:14 PM:
" Was just waiting for someone like unionlabel to make a comment like that. Black people can care less about o.j. And laughing and cheering was because someone black finally got away with something like white people have been getting away with since the caveman era. Nobody cheered because people got killed! "
Newswatcher wrote on Dec 5, 2008 10:35 PM:
" Sometimes justice comes from the spiritual realm. His guilty verdict came on the very day of the 13th anniversary of the night he killed Nicole and Ron.
And the murder guilt is not alleged, he was found guilty in a civil court.
I hope he suffers in prison, as he's driven our country batty knowing he should have been behind bars all these years while he golfed and wrote books, etc.
What a loser.
What goes around, comes around. It's all over his face and he deserves every grimmace of pain he wears now. "
And the murder guilt is not alleged, he was found guilty in a civil court.
I hope he suffers in prison, as he's driven our country batty knowing he should have been behind bars all these years while he golfed and wrote books, etc.
What a loser.
What goes around, comes around. It's all over his face and he deserves every grimmace of pain he wears now. "
MrT wrote on Dec 6, 2008 8:01 AM:
" Unionlabel, its nice to see that you can type while wearing your white hood.
" Should white people laugh & cheer...perhaps run out to the street in celebration now that the "Juice" has been found guilty...or would that be racist? "
YES, it would. That statement would convince me that the person making that statement must be racist. However, due to previous comments, I've just found that you have been a racist for some time.
Racism makes me sick! Racists make me sick! (so by definition) UNIONLABEL makes me sick! "
" Should white people laugh & cheer...perhaps run out to the street in celebration now that the "Juice" has been found guilty...or would that be racist? "
YES, it would. That statement would convince me that the person making that statement must be racist. However, due to previous comments, I've just found that you have been a racist for some time.
Racism makes me sick! Racists make me sick! (so by definition) UNIONLABEL makes me sick! "
MrT wrote on Dec 6, 2008 8:11 AM:
" to the shock of many on this site, I will tell you all a little secret: I AM HAPPY WITH THE VERDICT.
OJ broke the law. The punishment is in line with the crime.
I hope that finally people can just leave the man alone now. Not because he deserves it, but because WE deserve it. He is a lightening rod for racial conversations that go no where.
So, it's over now. Let's move beyond OJ. He's not worth our breathe or time. Let's start talkingabout some real issues... PLEASE "
OJ broke the law. The punishment is in line with the crime.
I hope that finally people can just leave the man alone now. Not because he deserves it, but because WE deserve it. He is a lightening rod for racial conversations that go no where.
So, it's over now. Let's move beyond OJ. He's not worth our breathe or time. Let's start talkingabout some real issues... PLEASE "
Newswatcher wrote on Dec 6, 2008 9:21 AM:
" In my opinion, OJ's story is not about race, as it is about him being famous. A star athelete, actor, wealthy, recognized any and everywhere. For him to get off on the double murder he committed because he had the fame and money to buy the attornies.
It's not his skin color, nor Ron and Nicole's skin color. Get past that, people. It was that everyone KNEW he did it and the jury fell hook-line-sinker for the shrunken glove trick.
If you deplore racists, be careful to not be one. I deplore criminals that get 'off' because of some lame tool (OJ's gloves) or technicality. "
It's not his skin color, nor Ron and Nicole's skin color. Get past that, people. It was that everyone KNEW he did it and the jury fell hook-line-sinker for the shrunken glove trick.
If you deplore racists, be careful to not be one. I deplore criminals that get 'off' because of some lame tool (OJ's gloves) or technicality. "
JKovacs wrote on Dec 6, 2008 11:58 AM:
" I believe this is a case of race. I lived in Los Angeles during OJ’s first trial in the murder of his wife Nicole and friend Ron Goldman. The city was so polarized during that time because of the beating of Rodney King, then those police officers were acquitted which resulted in the Los Angeles riots. There’s no way a black man in a high profile case as that would have been found guilty. The city was placed on tactical-alert during the verdicts. "
Newswatcher wrote on Dec 6, 2008 2:03 PM:
" I don't think it is race. If OJ had not been famous, a star athlete turned actor, wealthy enough to pay those expensive attornies, etc. He would have been convicted.
It's his fame that drove this. If he had been white, it would have had the same affect. That's my belief.
If it was race and the black community held our country hostage with fear of retaliation for convicting OJ based on his skin color, then shame on them.
But, think again, black men (& any color also) are convicted everyday with evidence like that. It was his star-power and his disgusting charisma that got him off. The jury was totally hoodwinked by this actor. "
It's his fame that drove this. If he had been white, it would have had the same affect. That's my belief.
If it was race and the black community held our country hostage with fear of retaliation for convicting OJ based on his skin color, then shame on them.
But, think again, black men (& any color also) are convicted everyday with evidence like that. It was his star-power and his disgusting charisma that got him off. The jury was totally hoodwinked by this actor. "
unionlabel wrote on Dec 6, 2008 4:10 PM:
" Glad to see that Mr. T agrees with the verdict,...we actually agree on something. However,...my "statement" about white people celebrating the verdict was not a statement...it was actually posed as a question.
Any white people who wanted OJ found guilty because of his race are as bigoted & racist as those Blacks who celebrated his "not guilty" verdict in 1994 merely because of his skin color. Justice should be colorblind as well as peoples attitudes. Amen! "
Any white people who wanted OJ found guilty because of his race are as bigoted & racist as those Blacks who celebrated his "not guilty" verdict in 1994 merely because of his skin color. Justice should be colorblind as well as peoples attitudes. Amen! "
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unionlabel wrote on Dec 5, 2008 1:59 PM: