O.J. Simpson sentenced to long prison term
Ex-NFL star apologizes to judge moments before his sentencing
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LAS VEGAS - O.J. Simpson, who was acquitted of the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife and her friend in Los Angeles, was sentenced Friday to at least 15 years in prison in an armed robbery case.
Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass sentenced Simpson after saying he was arrogant and ignorant. She said the evidence against him was overwhelming.
Earlier, 61-year-old Simpson apologized and told the judge he was sorry about trying to retrieve memorabilia that he said belonged to him. He appeared ready to break down in tears during a rambling, 5-minute declaration.
"I didn't want to steal anything from anyone ... I'm sorry, sorry," he said.
Prosecutor David Roger said Simpson was the ring leader in the botched attempt to recover the items from two collectibles peddlers.
Judge Glass also ruled that Simpson cannot be freed on bail pending possible appeal.
The judge said she wanted to make clear that she did not consider Simpson's previous acquittal on murder charges in deciding his sentence.
"I'm not here to sentence Mr. Simpson for what's happened previously" in his life, she said.
Simpson's co-defendant and former golfing buddy, Clarence "C.J. Stewart, also was sentenced.
Simpson and Stewart were both brought to the courtroom in dark blue jail uniforms, their hands shackled to their waists with chains. Simpson, who had not been expected to speak, decided to deliver a statement to the judge.
As he spoke, 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.
'Not bright, not smart'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.
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, where most of the 63 seats were taken by media, lawyers and family members of the defendants.
After sentencing was over, the Goldmans left the courtroom and Kim threw her arms around her father and wept.
"There's never closure. Ron is always gone. What we have is satisfaction that this monster is where he belongs behind bars," Fred Goldman said.
Simpson's sisters declined 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 middleman Thomas Riccio secretly made of the Sept. 13, 2007, Palace Station casino hotel confrontation with sports memorabilia brokers Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong.
"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.
LIKE THEY SAID..WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND.....
