There is no denying it, no “if it doesn’t fit, you must acquit,” no racist cops, no forensics experts or anything of that sort to get him off this time. The clear fact is that O.J. Simpson is going to prison; the question is for how long.
The former football star and sports announcer is now 61-year-old. He once walked away a free man after a celebrated murder trial, but now he is due to learn how much time he’ll spend in a Nevada state prison for a botched attempt to recover sports mementoes and personal items from two collectibles peddlers.
Simpson, who was acquitted of the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife and her friend in Los Angeles and his co-defendant and former golfing buddy, Clarence “C.J. Stewart, chose not to testify at their trial. On Oct. 3, they were convicted of 12 criminal charges, including kidnapping and armed robbery, and face mandatory prison time — a minimum of six years and up to life.
Yale Galanter, one of the Simpson attorneys, has said that his client will not address the court. Clarence Stewart will testify, this according to his lawyer, Brent Bryson.
Bryson said, “Best-case scenario we’re hoping for is six years. That’s the bottom-end number before being eligible for parole.” District Attorney David Roger is not expected to call witnesses, spokesman Dan Kulin said.
Gabriel Grasso, another of the Simpson attorneys, said that Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass would likely keep the proceedings short.
Grasso said, “She wants to hear from the lawyers and she wants to hear from the defendants. That’s about it.”
In accordance with Nevada Rules of Judicial Procedure, judges have broad discretion in determining whether to run sentences consecutively or at the same time. Unfortnately for Simpson, Glass is known for giving severe sentences and she can ignore or accept a recommendation from the state parole agency calling for at least 18 years.
Glass has already turned down the defendants’ request for a new trial. She has also received and reviewed written pleas for leniency from defense lawyers and was expected to rule on a request to let Simpson post bail and be freed from jail while he appeals his conviction.
Grasso said in a brief seeking his client’s release “Notwithstanding the jury verdict, Simpson continues to maintain his innocence.”
After the verdict, jurors said that they were convinced of Simpson’s guilt because of audio recordings middleman Thomas Riccio secretly made of the Sept. 13, 2007, Palace Station casino hotel confrontation with sports memorabilia brokers Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong.
Simpson commands on the recordings, “Don’t let nobody out of this room!” and instructs other men to scoop up items he insists had been stolen from him.
Glass is scheduled to sentence four former co-defendants who took plea deals and testified against Simpson and Stewart on Tuesday. 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.
At TicosLand.com, Costa Rica’s leading web directory, it saddens us to see Mr. Simpson, a former football great with the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers, going to prison. He had an illustrious career in football, Television and was even in the movies. How could he not have learned anything after his 1994 ordeal? Does he think of himself as being above the law? Does he even think? He is 61. He now faces a minimum of 6 years in prison. He is now in his twilight years. Rather than being able to enjoy them in comfort, he must face them in jail.
Tags: Costa Rica, football star, former football star, jail sentence, oj simpson, prison
