61-year-old football Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson was sentenced today (Friday, Dec. 5) to at least nine years in prison for a hotel armed robbery after a judge disregarded his apology and said, “It was much more than stupidity.”
Judge Jackie Glass quickly presented his punishment soon after Simpson made a five-minute plea for leniency. “I didn’t want to steal anything from anyone. … I’m sorry, sorry, ” Simpson reportedly said choked up and holding back tears.
Simpson will not be eligible for parole for five years. If he were paroled at that time, he still would have to serve at least an additional year on the kidnapping charge, which the judge enhanced, and two sentences of a minimum of 18 months each for assault with a deadly weapon.
The judge said several times that her sentence in the Las Vegas case had nothing to do with Simpson’s 1994 acquittal in the slaying of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
“I’m not here to try and cause any retribution or any payback for anything else,” Glass said.
Simpson was immediately led away to prison after the judge refused to permit him to go free on bail while he appeals.
Simpson’s co-defendant and former golfing buddy, Clarence “C.J.” Stewart, also was sentenced to at least 15 years.
Information from the Associated Press and Espn.com contributed to this report.
