On Thursday, a Nevada parole board granted parole to former NFL star O.J. Simpson, who has been imprisoned for the past 9 years.
Simpson, 70, apologized to the board for his role in an armed robbery and asserted that he had been a model prisoner and peacemaker in the prison.
Authorities at Lovelock Correctional Center, a medium-security prison in the Nevada desert, have confirmed Simpson’s good behavior.
“I’ve done my time. I’ve done it as well and as respectfully as I think anyone can,” stated Simpson.
He also stated that he had taken two “Alternative to Violence” classes and promised that he would not cause any future conflicts if granted parole.
“I’ve spent nine years making no excuses about anything. I am sorry that things turned out the way they did. I had no intent to commit a crime,” he continued.
In addition to being discipline-free during his time in prison, Simpson appeared to have a stable post-release plan. One aggravating, factor, however, was that at the time of his offense, his victims stated that they were in fear for their safety.
To refute this, robbery victim Bruce Fromong testified that he had forgiven Simpson for his crime, advocating for his release.
Arnelle Simpson, Simpson’s oldest daughter, testified as well, stating that her father was her “best friend and rock.”
Accordingly, the board voted unanimously to grant Simpson parole, grading him “low risk to reoffend.” After hearing the decision, Simpson smiled, thanked the board and silently put his head down for a few moments.
In 2008, Simpson was convicted of armed robbery, kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon for attempting to steal pieces of Simpson sports memorabilia at gunpoint in Las Vegas.
According to Simpson, he went to the room in the Palace Station Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas to reclaim family heirlooms and other personal items that had been taken from him. He claimed that he did not know his associates were armed.
“I wasn’t there to hurt anybody. I just wanted my personal things, and I realize now that was stupid of me. I am sorry,” he said at his trial.
For the Las Vegas heist, O.J. was sentenced 9 to 33 years, which his legal team argued did not match the crime. Instead, it claimed the sentence was a form of payback for his controversial murder acquittal, even though the Brown and Goldman families won a wrongful death civil judgment against Simpson in 1997.
“It wasn’t about justice. They wanted the guy that got away with murder in 1994,” agreed robbery victim Bruce Fromong in the documentary “O.J.: Made in America.”
Simpson may be released from prison as early as October and plans to move to his home in Florida.
During the parole hearing, Simpson was alert and engaged. He even let out a big laugh when parole board Chairman Connie Bisbee accidentally stated that he was 90 years old.
“I feel like it,” he laughed.
Simpson also continued to deny full responsibility for the Vegas robbery and kidnapping. He asserted that his associates misled him during the robbery, later turning on him in court.
“Unfortunately, they got a get-out-of-jail-free card when they said ‘O.J. told me (to do it),’” Simpson said during the hearing. “Nothing I can do about that.”
The celebrity also did not make any mention of his infamous 1995 acquittal for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.
Thursday’s parole hearing nevertheless brought renewed interest in Simpson as countless cable news shows covered the hearing throughout the day.
Though the murders occurred over 20 years ago, the “trial of the century”, as well as its themes of justice, race, trust in police, celebrity and domestic violence, remains of great interest today.
Just last year, the award-winning documentary “O.J.: Made in America” and the FX true-crime drama “The People v. O.J. Simpson” explored Simpson’s story in greater depth.
“We talk about O.J. as though the story is O.J.,” journalist Celia Farber says at the end of the “Made in America” documentary. “The story is O.J. and us.”
