In 2008, O.J. Simpson was sentenced to 33 years in prison for charges of robbery and kidnapping after he and two associates went to steal back some of his sports memorabilia from men in Las Vegas. On Thursday, Simpson came up for parole after serving nine years in prison in Lovelock, Nevada and was granted his release at the age of 70.
The parole board noted Simpson’s good behavior and lack of prior convictions — which, of course, includes his acquittal from his famed double-murder case from 2004 — as reasons for giving him consideration for release. The biggest question asked of Simpson was about what happened on the day he went to retrieve the memorabilia and what happened to lead to those he was taking his property back from to claim they were afraid for their lives.
Simpson recounted the day, which he’s undoubtedly run back in his mind plenty of times while in prison, and took the parole board step-by-step through his decision-making process that led to him bringing armed security with him. The entire thing was surreal, but Simpson’s claim that he’s never been accused of pulling a weapon on anybody, in an effort to convince the board that he wasn’t a threat outside prison, was especially eye-raising.
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/888086812018843649
“In any event, I’m no danger to pull a gun on anybody [chuckles],” Simpson said. “I never have in my life. I’ve never been accused of it in my life. Nobody’s ever accused me of pulling any weapon on them.”
He doubled down on his living of a clean life with a statement later about the general lack of conflict he’s been involved in throughout his life.
OJ Simpson "I've basically spent a conflict-free life" pic.twitter.com/HI0BLAh0Li
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) July 20, 2017
Simpson denied any issues of alcohol or substance abuse in his past as well, as he spent the entirety of his hearing attempting to proclaim his general goodness to the parole board. The parole board noted after Simpson’s testimony that, despite letters from the public asking for them to consider the 1995 acquittal and subsequent civil suit, that would not factor into their decision. After noting that, Simpson said, “thank you.”
The parole board then explained the conditions of parole to Simpson, should he be granted release.
https://twitter.com/_MarcusD2_/status/888091716242296833
The board also noted that, despite the 33-year sentence, Simpson’s final release from jail, should he not be granted parole this year, would be 2022. Simpson, if granted parole after his hearing, could be released as early as October of this year.
You can watch a live feed of the proceedings below.
