O.J. Simpson was sentenced to 15 years in prison for armed robbery after a judge rejected his apology, saying, “It was much more than stupidity.”
Simpson was convicted on October 3 of 12 criminal counts, including armed robbery, kidnapping and burglary after he and some buddies broke into a Nevada hotel room, attempting to recover his allegedly stolen sports memorabilia.
The 61-year-old Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Hall of Famer stood both shackled and stone-faced as Judge Jackie Glass read the punishment.
A rambling, five-minute plea for leniency, in which he was simultaneously apologizing for the holdup as a foolish mistake and trying to justify his actions, ended with O.J. Simpson choking back tears. And earned him zero sympathy.
The judge emphasized that it was a violent confrontation in which at least one gun was drawn, and someone could have been shot. She said the evidence was overwhelming, with the planning, confrontation and aftermath all on tape.
Hard to argue with that.
JUICE NO LONGER LOOSE! At long, long last, O.J. Simpson is headed for the long prison stint he so richly deserves and worked so tirelessly to attain.
The judge said several times that her sentence in the Vegas robbery case had absolutely nothing to do with O.J. Simpson’s controversial acquittal in the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
Simpson was immediately led away to prison after the judge refused to permit him to go free on bail while he appeals. His co-defendant and former golfing buddy, Clarence “C.J.” Stewart, also was sentenced to at least 15 years.
The Juice could be paroled after as little as nine years. Maybe Christie Prody will even be there when he gets out. True love always waits.