Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson a former NFL legend and American Hero who fell far from grace in the early 90s after the double homicide of his ex-wife Nicole Brown-Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman became public knowledge, just went in front of the parole board of Nevada at the age of 70. The board voted unanimously to parole Simpson upon his earliest eligibility for release, which should be October 1, 2017.
Simpson walked into the hearing room wearing prison blue jeans and a denim shirt, which was a far cry from the swaggered out OJ that most people remembered. He looked nervous at best.
At first, he was polite, even seemingly contrite. He smiled quite a bit, albeit somewhat anxiously. He recognized people in the room and acknowledged them with a head nod and smiles. But then once he began to speak some of that went away.
It took an hour and five minutes, but Simpson apologized. He expressed remorse and said, If I would have made a better judgment back then, none of this would have happened. And I take full responsibility. I’ve done my time. I’d just like to get back to my family and friends. I’m sorry it happened. I’m sorry to Nevada … I thought I was glad to get my stuff back, but it wasn’t worth it.”
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After almost 9 years in prison, O.J. Simpson is granted parole. https://t.co/wYGQFl57VL
OJ was sentenced to serve between nine-to-33-years in prison after his conviction in a 2007 kidnapping and armed robbery at a Las Vegas hotel in which he was attempting to retrieve what he believed to be his own property that had been stolen from him. OJ has been at Lovelock Correctional Center ever since his sentencing. Lovelock is a medium-security prison in a remote part of Nevada.
The board let it be known that even though they received stacks upon stacks of letters in both support and opposition of Simpson, that they would not consider the 1994 double murder acquittal or subsequent 33 million dollar civil lawsuit judgement against him for the same crime into consideration for todays parole hearing.
During his family statement period, Simpson looked remorseful while his daughter was speaking about the toll that the last nine years have taken on their family. She expressed that she knew he was humbled by his time in prison.
Said Simpsons daughter Arnelle, “He is my best friend and my rock.” She then acknowledged that the crime her father committed was “counterproductive” and “clearly inappropriate.” She explained that her family was behind her father while still recognizing him to be a fallible man by stating, “As a family, we recognize he is not the perfect man.
Compelling testimony was also given on OJs behalf by one of the victims of his crime Bruce Fromong.
“It’s time to give him a second chance…He made a mistake,” said Fromong.
Fromong then told the panel that if they saw fit to let Simpson out tomorrow and he received a call asking to pick him up from prison, that he would be there. He then turned to OJ and called him Juice.
There were a few incidents that received notable laughter. Once when Connie Bisbee, Nevada Board of Parole Commissioner erroneously stated for the record, We have that you currently or very recently turned 90 years old.
A clearly amused OJ responded, I Feel Like It!
Another moment elicited laughter when Bisbee brought up OJs desire to move back to the state of Florida.
I could easily stay in Nevada but I dont think you guys want me here, OJ said. To which Bisbee half chuckled and responded, No comment sir.
