O.J.Simpson Gets Slapped with Hefty Prison Sentence

O.J. Simpson appeared despondent and close to tears as he told Nevada Judge Jackie Glass that he was "sorry and confused" and then launched into a disjointed and emotional attempt to explain his actions. He reportedly said, "...I'm sorry," at least four times.

A Las Vegas jury of nine women and three men found Simpson guilty of storming a Palace Station Casino hotel room in September 2007 along with five of his friends. According to testimony, at least two of the group carried guns and seized sports memorabilia worth thousands of dollars from dealers, Bruce L. Fromong and Alfred Beardsley.

Four of Simpson's accomplices pleaded guilty earlier this year and testified against O.J. Simpson. Simpson's trial, at times, rekindled the public's memory of his sensationalized and racially charged trial in 1995 on the charges of killing his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman. Simpson was acquitted of the charges by a predominantly Black jury - a verdict decried by many, including the families of the victims, as a "miscarriage of justice."

In October, when Simpson was convicted, Fred Goldman, father of murder victim Ron Goldman, told CNN that he was "absolutely thrilled to see the potential that he [Simpson] could serve the rest of his life in jail, where the scumbag belongs." Today, accompanied by his daughter Kim, Goldman told CNN, "We are thrilled, and it's a bittersweet moment," Fred Goldman told reporters, "It was satisfying seeing him in shackles like he belongs." The news of O.J. Simpson's stiff sentencing has sparked a flurry of Internet activity to new sites and spurring a torrent of editorial comments by bloggers and members of social networking sites. The consensus opinion is that O.J. is getting his "just desserts."

Simpson stood stone-faced, shackled, and wearing a prison jumpsuit today before Judge Glass as she quickly pronounced his sentence. Glass was clearly not swayed by Simpson's rambling pre-sentence declaration that he didn't mean to steal from anybody when he tried to retrieve what he claimed to be his sports memorabilia.

According to several news sources, Judge Glass commented that she began the trial wondering whether Simpson was arrogant or ignorant, saying "Now I know the answer, it's both." Clearly, the judge felt no compelling case had been made by Simpson's defense team for mercy or leniency. Glass sentenced him to a minimum of 9 years in a state penitentiary before even being eligible for parole. Considering Simpson's age of 61, it could well turn out to be a life sentence.

Before the sentencing, Judge Glass denied a defense motion asking for Simpson to be released on bail pending appeal of his conviction. Few people have forgotten his attempt to flea prosecution in the 1995 murder case and it seems the judge hadn't forgotten, either.

Simpson's lawyers vowed to challenge the verdict, on the grounds that the jury selection was manipulated to produce a panel with no African-Americans. They also asserted that the judge biased the jurors with her behavior in court.

In the meantime, O.J. Simpson will remain in the custody of the State of Nevada. He was transported immediately from the courthouse to a state prison to begin serving his sentence.