OJ Simpson Sentenced to 15 Years to Life for Armed Robbery, Kidnapping Charges

O.J. Simpson was sentenced to 15 years to life for criminal charges ranging from kidnapping to robbery in a Las Vegas court on Friday.

The charges stemmed from a botched attempt to recover sports memorabilia that Simpson claimed was stolen from him by two sports collectibles dealers.

Simpson, the Hall of Fame NFL running back, was convicted on ten counts total as the first seven are set to run concurrently. His 15-year sentence, which will be served consecutively to his previous seven, allows him to be up for parole after six years. He was also sentenced to an additional 30-month term that can be served consecutively.

His co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart received the same sentence.

Simpson and five others were convicted of robbing Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley at the Palace Station hotel casino in September 2007. Prosecutors said Simpson took items including footballs with his autograph.

A jury of nine women and three men deliberated for almost 13 hours before finding Simpson and Stewart guilty of all 12 counts against each man. The other co-defendants, Charles Ehrlich, Michael McClinton, Charles Cashmore and Walter Alexander, pleaded guilty to robbery and testified against Simpson.

Judge Jackie Glass of Clark County District Court earlier ruled that Simpson cannot be freed on bail during the appeal. Simpson then apologized to Glass and the Las Vegas court, a statement that was unexpected since neither he nor his co-defendant Clarence “C.J.” Stewart testified during the actual trial.

Before she began the sentencing for Simpson and Stewart, Glass told Simpson that this case was unusual because everything was caught on tape. "The evidence in this case was overwhelming," she said. "This was actually a very violent event."

Simpson and Stewart were convicted Oct. 3 of 12 criminal charges, including kidnapping and armed robbery. The conviction came exactly 13 years to the date that Simpson was acquitted for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in the most media-frenzied trial of the 20th century.

Simpson was later found liable for the deaths in a 1997 civil lawsuit and ordered to pay damages to the victims’ families totaling $33.5 million.

Fred Goldman and his daughter, Kim Goldman, father and sister of murder victim Ron Goldman, the friend of Simpson's slain ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, were among the 15 members of the public to gain entry to the courtroom. Sydney Simpson, the daughter of Simpson and Brown Simpson, was also in attendance in the courtroom.

After the verdict was handed down, Fred Goldman told reporters that "this is a bittersweet moment" but spoke of the satisfaction of seeing Simpson sentenced to jail. "He'll be where he belongs, with others of his kind," Goldman said.

The case is Nevada v. Orenthal James Simpson, 07-237890, Nevada District Court, Clark County (Las Vegas).

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