O.J. Simpson's final chapter: a prison sentence

[samanthajane13]

By LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch, Ap Special Correspondent – 1 hr 3 mins ago



LAS VEGAS – During his trial for armed robbery and kidnapping, O.J. Simpson once sat in a courthouse hallway musing on what might have been: Before his arrest, he had considered moving to Las Vegas, where he liked the climate and the people he had met.

Now he could spend the rest of his life in Nevada — in prison.

The 61-year-old former football star, actor and TV pitchman will be sentenced Friday along with a co-defendant in a hearing that marks the end of Simpson's journey from fame and fortune to crime and punishment.

Although the case carries mandatory prison time, friend Tom Scotto said Simpson remains hopeful and positive after being convicted in October of all 12 charges that arose from a hotel-room confrontation with two sports-memorabilia dealers.

"He's doing better than I would be in this situation," said Scotto, who visited Simpson in jail and has spoken with him by phone. "He sounds good. He is upbeat. He's looking forward to the sentencing so he can get on with the appeal."

Scotto, who plans to attend the sentencing, spoke from his home in Florida, where he and Simpson became close friends. Simpson moved there after he was acquitted in the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman in Los Angeles.

Simpson will spend a minimum of six years in state prison and could be held for life if the judge imposes maximum penalties or decides to run the sentences consecutively.

Court documents filed Tuesday indicate the state Parole and Probation Division has recommended that Simpson and his co-defendant get at least 18 years in prison.

Simpson's lawyer, Yale Galanter, plans to ask Judge Jackie Glass for the minimum sentence. Galanter said he would argue that Simpson has no prior convictions. In ordinary cases, the lack of a prior criminal record weighs heavily at sentencing.

Galanter, who believes that Simpson's jury was punishing him for the Los Angeles murders, said he hopes the judge will not do the same thing.

"If our country has gotten to the point where your acquittals count against you, we have a major problem," said Galanter, who wants to present witnesses at sentencing, notably the two memorabilia dealers who testified that Simpson robbed them.

He said Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley would testify that they don't want Simpson to go to prison, but Galanter was unsure whether the judge will allow them to speak.

As for the usually loquacious Simpson, Galanter said: "O.J. is not going to say a word. Anything he says could affect his appellate rights, and that is his only hope of freedom."

Since his conviction, Simpson has been held in isolation in a 7-by-14-foot jail cell. In state prison, he will remain in solitary confinement because of his celebrity.

Simpson can communicate with visitors using only a live closed-circuit video hookup. His only "contact visits" have been with his lawyers, Galanter and Gabriel Grasso.

Prosecutors have steadfastly refused to comment on the case, which is a hot topic in Las Vegas legal circles.

David Chesnoff, a well-known Las Vegas defense attorney, said he expects Glass to impose neither the minimum nor the maximum sentence.

"Judges in Las Vegas don't usually pile it on," he said. "I don't expect her to max him out."

However, Chesnoff said that Glass, who once denounced Simpson for "ignorance and arrogance," could be expected to lecture him.

"If I were the judge, I would tell him, 'You had a very fortunate experience in your prior contact with the justice system, and you should have gone to India and helped orphans,'" Chesnoff said.

He also predicted co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart would receive a lesser sentence "because he was not the organizer."

The events that brought Simpson to a prison sentence were recounted repeatedly in court.

Simpson traveled to Las Vegas for Scotto's wedding and a weekend of parties at the Palms hotel-casino. But before he could don his tuxedo as best man, Simpson had to take care of business.

He was intent on retrieving remnants of his storied past — pieces of memorabilia from his Hall of Fame football career that he heard were being peddled by dealers across town.

He talked about the plan all day on Sept. 13, 2007, as he met people at the Palms' bar and pool. Some offered to go along. Two of them said later that they brought guns, although Simpson insisted he never saw a gun and never asked anyone to bring one.

The morning after the incident, Simpson told The Associated Press he saw no guns, and he didn't think he had broken any laws.

"It's stolen stuff that's mine. Nobody was roughed up," he said, insisting he had a right to retrieve his plaques and pictures, including a photograph of him with the late FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.

The meeting at the Palace Station hotel-casino was arranged by Thomas Riccio, a memorabilia dealer who secretly recorded the confrontation.

Riccio's recording, which netted him $210,000 when he sold it to media outlets, became the key piece of evidence in Simpson's trial. Jurors said they focused on Simpson's booming voice shouting, "Nobody leaves the room."

Riccio was granted immunity from prosecution to testify against Simpson and Stewart. Four other men who went along for the confrontation were initially charged but then given plea deals to testify for the prosecution.

The judge, who will sentence them Tuesday in a separate proceeding, is not required to abide by prosecutors' recommendations.

In the end, jurors said they didn't trust the witnesses and instead relied upon Riccio's recording and surveillance videos to make their decision. Jurors have no say in sentencing, and one of them said she didn't care if Simpson and Stewart went to prison.

"I don't have any ill feelings, and if they walked out tomorrow, so be it," juror Dora Pettit said after convicting Simpson. "I think he's an ordinary man that made a bad decision."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081203/..._us/oj_simpson

[wind149]

Even if he gets 6 years that is more time than he spent awaiting trial in 1995 and if the judge runs it consecutively like I hope she does, he is a gonna be sitting in a Nevada prison for life and that suits me and I am sure Fred Goldman is going throw a black party. He might have gotten away with murder, but the Vegas jury did their job and found him guilty and I betcha there won't be any smirk on his face tomorrow, more like tears and I wonder if his sister will throw another one of her hissys??? Didn't work the last time, probably won't this time. He deserves prison time like any other slob who did what he did. He had no intention of buying back what he claimed was stolen from him ,as usual he decided to throw his weight around and thank God, it backfired on him because I truly believe he would have shot those men and they were smart for taping everything. OJ could not deny which was clearly his voice and his threats and his boat was sunk. I look forward to tomorrow, I wonder what time the sentencing will commence?? Every network is gonna carry it and all the talking heads will be blathering, should be a fun day@!!!

[William Anthony]

Originally Posted by wind149

Even if he gets 6 years that is more time than he spent awaiting trial in 1995 and if the judge runs it consecutively like I hope she does, he is a gonna be sitting in a Nevada prison for life and that suits me and I am sure Fred Goldman is going throw a black party. He might have gotten away with murder, but the Vegas jury did their job and found him guilty and I betcha there won't be any smirk on his face tomorrow, more like tears and I wonder if his sister will throw another one of her hissys??? Didn't work the last time, probably won't this time. He deserves prison time like any other slob who did what he did. He had no intention of buying back what he claimed was stolen from him ,as usual he decided to throw his weight around and thank God, it backfired on him because I truly believe he would have shot those men and they were smart for taping everything. OJ could not deny which was clearly his voice and his threats and his boat was sunk. I look forward to tomorrow, I wonder what time the sentencing will commence?? Every network is gonna carry it and all the talking heads will be blathering, should be a fun day@!!!

WTH is a black party and why would anyone buy back what they feel was stolen from them and since no one knew that it was being taped why do you think he would have shot them with all those witnesses, or do you think he would have shot all of them or are you just talking to be talking?

[martin II]

Originally Posted by wind149

Even if he gets 6 years that is more time than he spent awaiting trial in 1995 and if the judge runs it consecutively like I hope she does, he is a gonna be sitting in a Nevada prison for life and that suits me and I am sure Fred Goldman is going throw a black party. He might have gotten away with murder, but the Vegas jury did their job and found him guilty and I betcha there won't be any smirk on his face tomorrow, more like tears and I wonder if his sister will throw another one of her hissys??? Didn't work the last time, probably won't this time. He deserves prison time like any other slob who did what he did. He had no intention of buying back what he claimed was stolen from him ,as usual he decided to throw his weight around and thank God, it backfired on him because I truly believe he would have shot those men and they were smart for taping everything. OJ could not deny which was clearly his voice and his threats and his boat was sunk. I look forward to tomorrow, I wonder what time the sentencing will commence?? Every network is gonna carry it and all the talking heads will be blathering, should be a fun day@!!!

Did oj have a gun in the hotel room that would have allowed him to shoot someone?

[William Anthony]

Originally Posted by martin II

Did oj have a gun in the hotel room that would have allowed him to shoot someone?

Did I miss something? Was Mr. Fred Goldman in the hotel room?

[William Anthony]

Originally Posted by wind149

Even if he gets 6 years that is more time than he spent awaiting trial in 1995 and if the judge runs it consecutively like I hope she does, he is a gonna be sitting in a Nevada prison for life and that suits me and I am sure Fred Goldman is going throw a black party. He might have gotten away with murder, but the Vegas jury did their job and found him guilty and I betcha there won't be any smirk on his face tomorrow, more like tears and I wonder if his sister will throw another one of her hissys??? Didn't work the last time, probably won't this time. He deserves prison time like any other slob who did what he did. He had no intention of buying back what he claimed was stolen from him ,as usual he decided to throw his weight around and thank God, it backfired on him because I truly believe he would have shot those men and they were smart for taping everything. OJ could not deny which was clearly his voice and his threats and his boat was sunk. I look forward to tomorrow, I wonder what time the sentencing will commence?? Every network is gonna carry it and all the talking heads will be blathering, should be a fun day@!!!

Let me play devil's advocate for a moment. Your post seems to speak of a sense of entitlement that Simpson was claimed to have had by many posters. Let's go back to the incidents of spousal abuse that were reported to LE. Do you think LE should have handled him more harshly? Do you think that LE should have been more thorough in the investigation of the murder charges? Do you think that LE should have investigated Riccio's report? Do you think LE's inaction contributed to his alleged sense of entitlement? Do you think Simpson would have acted differently had LE been harsher? Do you think that anything should be done about LE's failures?

[wind149]

Am I missing something here? Did his enforcers have guns or not? I clearly heard on CNN the angry words he was spewing. He is facing some major time and would not be had he just agreed to buy his stuff back and let it go, but being the egomaniac that he is, he brought what I would call thugs and those men were held against their will, hence the kidnapping charges. I know you guys have empathy for him and you are certainly entitled to do so, and I loathe him so we are not ever gonna agree. My point is if "Hector Sanchez" had committed the same crimes, he would be going away for a long time and what makes this loser special? You do the crime, you have to do the time and tomorrow he will be held accountable and forfeit his freedom like every other person has to when they are convicted of a serious crime and it is his own fault. My take is this stuff meant so much to him, why did he have it up for sale? I have a watch that is worth a few bucks, but it belonged to my biological mother who I never met, she died in 2001 and my sister thought that I should have it and I would never part with it because of the meaning behind it, it is a part of her and if this stuff was so special, then why did he sell it? Especially the suit he wore to court the day he slithered out of murder charges, who in their right mind would want that? To me it is as bad as collecting stuff from serial killers. I admit I did not watch the trial coverage like I did the first one, simply had better things to do with my time, but I would hear bits on CNN and he clearly showed his true colors on those tapes. As for the domestic violence charges on Nicole, I heard that 911 tape way back when he was arrested for murdering her and those pictures of her battered face speak volumes to me about how dangerous a person he is and how he thought of her as a possession and his ego would not let it go that she did not want him anymore so her murdered her, but got off and instead of just staying out of the spotlight, he then comes up with he was gonna hire a private investigator to find the "real killer" And then he beat on another woman, and then continued to slap the Brown's and Goldman's face after being found guilty in the civil trial, refusing to pay a dime and hid assets in his daughter's name, just an arrogant prick and then came the tell all murder book! SO I think his number is finally up and I don't mean his jersey number and after tomorrow there will be no further posting about him from me.

[William Anthony]

Originally Posted by wind149

Am I missing something here? Did his enforcers have guns or not? I clearly heard on CNN the angry words he was spewing. He is facing some major time and would not be had he just agreed to buy his stuff back and let it go, but being the egomaniac that he is, he brought what I would call thugs and those men were held against their will, hence the kidnapping charges. I know you guys have empathy for him and you are certainly entitled to do so, and I loathe him so we are not ever gonna agree. My point is if "Hector Sanchez" had committed the same crimes, he would be going away for a long time and what makes this loser special? You do the crime, you have to do the time and tomorrow he will be held accountable and forfeit his freedom like every other person has to when they are convicted of a serious crime and it is his own fault. My take is this stuff meant so much to him, why did he have it up for sale? I have a watch that is worth a few bucks, but it belonged to my biological mother who I never met, she died in 2001 and my sister thought that I should have it and I would never part with it because of the meaning behind it, it is a part of her and if this stuff was so special, then why did he sell it? Especially the suit he wore to court the day he slithered out of murder charges, who in their right mind would want that? To me it is as bad as collecting stuff from serial killers. I admit I did not watch the trial coverage like I did the first one, simply had better things to do with my time, but I would hear bits on CNN and he clearly showed his true colors on those tapes. As for the domestic violence charges on Nicole, I heard that 911 tape way back when he was arrested for murdering her and those pictures of her battered face speak volumes to me about how dangerous a person he is and how he thought of her as a possession and his ego would not let it go that she did not want him anymore so her murdered her, but got off and instead of just staying out of the spotlight, he then comes up with he was gonna hire a private investigator to find the "real killer" And then he beat on another woman, and then continued to slap the Brown's and Goldman's face after being found guilty in the civil trial, refusing to pay a dime and hid assets in his daughter's name, just an arrogant prick and then came the tell all murder book! SO I think his number is finally up and I don't mean his jersey number and after tomorrow there will be no further posting about him from me.

Okay. You heard his voice and did not hear anything else in the trial. He will be sentenced and life will continue.

[martin II]

Originally Posted by wind149

Am I missing something here? Did his enforcers have guns or not? I clearly heard on CNN the angry words he was spewing. He is facing some major time and would not be had he just agreed to buy his stuff back and let it go, but being the egomaniac that he is, he brought what I would call thugs and those men were held against their will, hence the kidnapping charges. I know you guys have empathy for him and you are certainly entitled to do so, and I loathe him so we are not ever gonna agree. My point is if "Hector Sanchez" had committed the same crimes, he would be going away for a long time and what makes this loser special? You do the crime, you have to do the time and tomorrow he will be held accountable and forfeit his freedom like every other person has to when they are convicted of a serious crime and it is his own fault. My take is this stuff meant so much to him, why did he have it up for sale? I have a watch that is worth a few bucks, but it belonged to my biological mother who I never met, she died in 2001 and my sister thought that I should have it and I would never part with it because of the meaning behind it, it is a part of her and if this stuff was so special, then why did he sell it? Especially the suit he wore to court the day he slithered out of murder charges, who in their right mind would want that? To me it is as bad as collecting stuff from serial killers. I admit I did not watch the trial coverage like I did the first one, simply had better things to do with my time, but I would hear bits on CNN and he clearly showed his true colors on those tapes. As for the domestic violence charges on Nicole, I heard that 911 tape way back when he was arrested for murdering her and those pictures of her battered face speak volumes to me about how dangerous a person he is and how he thought of her as a possession and his ego would not let it go that she did not want him anymore so her murdered her, but got off and instead of just staying out of the spotlight, he then comes up with he was gonna hire a private investigator to find the "real killer" And then he beat on another woman, and then continued to slap the Brown's and Goldman's face after being found guilty in the civil trial, refusing to pay a dime and hid assets in his daughter's name, just an arrogant prick and then came the tell all murder book! SO I think his number is finally up and I don't mean his jersey number and after tomorrow there will be no further posting about him from me.

You seem to be quite confused on the case.

[William Anthony]

It seems that wind must have been watching the trial on closed circuit tv.

[William Anthony]

I foresee a 6 year sentence with credit for time served and 5 years probation.

[William Anthony]

Fox reported that the prosecution and the probation department are recommending 18 years and Ms. Megyn kelly asked, if it was anyone else would the sentence be that large and the reporter said no and that the Goldmans were not receiving special treatment for sentencing.

[martin II]

Originally Posted by William Anthony

It seems that wind must have been watching the trial on closed circuit tv.

I think so. There is an excess of it also.

[martin II]

Cnn
C Pilcaman defense lawyer
states that if Stewart had not been tried with oj he would have received some sort of community service and or probation.It was the carryover effect of the criminal trial that caused the overcharging of both by the DA.

[weezer]

1 hour 15 minutes and counting

[martin II]

Originally Posted by William Anthony

I foresee a 6 year sentence with credit for time served and 5 years probation.

So did two Cnn Lawyers but i am not sure that will be the case based on the overcharging and the trumped up kidnapping charge.

[martin II]

Originally Posted by fbgweezer

1 hour 15 minutes and counting

Is your party ready??

[weezer]

1 hour, 7 minutes and counting

[weezer]

Originally Posted by martin II

Is your party ready??

almost -- but I've still got time -- 1 hour, 6 minutes and counting

[William Anthony]

Originally Posted by fbgweezer

almost -- but I've still got time -- 1 hour, 6 minutes and counting

I hope it won't be a party buster, if he receives probation.

[weezer]

44 minutes and counting

[William Anthony]

Originally Posted by fbgweezer

44 minutes and counting

Thirty Five days and counting!

[weezer]

Originally Posted by William Anthony

Thirty Five days and counting!

win one, lose one -- what can I say?

God Bless America!

[William Anthony]

Originally Posted by fbgweezer

win one, lose one -- what can I say?

God Bless America!

Fear not! The war is not lost in one battle, unless it is the last one. Appeal, Appeal, Appeal, that is why America is great.

[William Anthony]

President Bush may be trying to overshadow Simpson on Fox.

[weezer]

24 minutes and counting

[weezer]

16 minutes and counting

[William Anthony]

It is very fortuitous and one may even say Karma that Mr. Fred and Ms. Kim Goldman won the lottery and gained seats in the courtroom.

[weezer]

I'm putting my money on KARMA!

[weezer]

I see arnelle but not christy -- hmmm

[weezer]

grasso better rethink 'we've become friends' -- most of those folks wind up in big trouble!

[weezer]

someone needs to tell grasso to shut up -- good Lord!

[SlowHandSam]

his acting skills are under par ... his attempt to seem as though he was ready to cry during his speech was weak.

[weezer]

Originally Posted by SlowHandSam

his acting skills are under par ... his attempt to seem as though he was ready to cry during his speech was weak.

LOL -- the stream I'm watching didn't show him when he was talking. did he look 'pitiful'?

[SlowHandSam]

Originally Posted by fbgweezer

LOL -- the stream I'm watching didn't show him when he was talking. did he look 'pitiful'?

oh yes - I'm on TruTV watching it. He attempted to look pitiful and let his voice attempt to crack etc.

But when one of the other lawyers gave a quick thank you to the bench, he kept rolling his eyes ... wonder if he forgot he was on camera.

Now - Stewart is trying to look pitiful and remorseful etc.

[SlowHandSam]

15 or 30 years for both with a minimum stay of 7.5 years before parole eligible.

The math is crazy - but consensus is that for OJ it should be a max of 30 years.

I think Glass took his sentence down a bit after his appeal.

But ... at least it is prison time.

[weezer]

Jack Ford just said they figured it's 15 yrs with a minimum of 6 yrs before they are eligible for parole.


Other good news is the sentencing went so long that Jamie Floyd didn't get a chance for her "last word".

[William Anthony]

Originally Posted by fbgweezer

Jack Ford just said they figured it's 15 yrs with a minimum of 6 yrs before they are eligible for parole.


Other good news is the sentencing went so long that Jamie Floyd didn't get a chance for her "last word".

Why not. Do you think that Ms. Floyd would have mentioned the judge mentioning the other trials, while attesting to the fact that she did not consider them?

[weezer]

I'm not arguing with you today -- I'm in much too good a mood. Personally, I was glad jami floyd wasn't on because I think she's a racist b*tch masquerading as a 'reporter' --

[martin II]

Originally Posted by SlowHandSam

15 or 30 years for both with a minimum stay of 7.5 years before parole eligible.

The math is crazy - but consensus is that for OJ it should be a max of 30 years.

I think Glass took his sentence down a bit after his appeal.

But ... at least it is prison time.

6 to 21 years is more correct.