O. J. Simpson: How many years?
In just a few hours, O. J. Simpson will be sentenced to a lengthy period in the Nevada penal system. Simpson will not speak at the sentencing, because he is appealing the conviction. After all, he can't very well apologize or ask for leniency in sentencing for a crime he is not prepared to accept responsibility for committing. Instead, Simpson's attorney is planning to make the rather bizarre request that Simpson's victims be allowed to testify and offer their views on sentencing. Of course, the problem with that, not to be too legalistic, is that the charges are for crimes against the state, so sentencing in this country does not depend on the opinions of victims.
In following this case, it seemed obvious that most everyone involved was a moth drawn to the remaining light cast by the dying embers of Simpson's star: sycophants of the worst sort. But according to one local defense lawyer I spoke with Thursday, no victim testimony of any sort will make a difference to Judge Jackie Glass. In Nevada, what is going to matter most is that a crime involving a gun was committed in a casino. This lawyer pointed out: You don't even have to be famous to be in a world of trouble for that mix.
There certainly has been plenty of discussion over whether Simpson's acquittal for murder 13 years ago influenced this prosecution and conviction in Las Vegas. But less discussed and perhaps more relevant is the impression many have locally that we do indeed have a two-tier system of justice -- but based on geography, not celebrity. The perception is that crimes that take place inside the tourist corridor are pursued more aggressively than elsewhere in the Las Vegas Valley. I know when my car was vandalized at my old apartment, I could not get an officer to even show up. Whereas when I had a similar car issue in a casino lot, the resort security easily summoned police to assist me.
Anyway, to get back to Simpson, his defense lawyers are asking Judge Glass that the former football player be given the minimum six-year sentence, whereas the Division of Parole and Probation has recommended a sentence of at least 18 years. The law even allows Glass to give Simpson a life sentence.
The Review-Journal interviews a local lawyer who suggests that Glass is likely to sentence Simpson to somewhere in the range of 11 years. But based on the lawyer I spoke to, who has appeared often before Glass in the past, I will not be surprised if she gives Simpson a very, very long sentence.
Then O.J. Simpson, for whatever length of time, will be led away to begin this perhaps final chapter of his life, once again in a uniform, albeit of jailhouse issue.
If we are to have a working legal system that's based on the law and not on emotion, Simpson realistically should get only one or two years for something like this. That's what any other person would get. I don't think he should be given more just because we don't like him.
Posted by: Mark.London | December 05, 2008 at 08:23 AM
Mr. Abowitz,
After all the tripe that has been written regarding OJ over the years, I have to say this is truly some of the best written news and commentary I have ever read regarding the Juice. Thank you for prividing some intelligent finality to this case. I look forward to reading more from you!
Posted by: Dave T | December 05, 2008 at 09:06 AM
I don't really think Simpson 'realistically' would get one or two years for armed robbery and kidnapping charges. Even if the guy was never acquitted of murder charges, and this was the first trial he had, holding someone up at gunpoint in a casino and kidnapping someone wouldn't exactly get you the slap on the wrist that a one or two year sentence would be.
And it is a minimum six year sentence anyway, so even if it was his first offense he's getting six years and not one or two...
Posted by: Glyld | December 05, 2008 at 09:07 AM
O J never seems to take responsiblity for his actions I feel he thinks hes above it all
Posted by: Melody Robinson | December 05, 2008 at 09:11 AM
Not enough!!
Posted by: Truefoe | December 05, 2008 at 09:11 AM
The got Big Al on tax evasion and this will be O.J.'s version of that. I hope he gets life!
Posted by: Tim | December 05, 2008 at 09:14 AM
what a shameful low life guy it shows on his face.....
Posted by: bob | December 05, 2008 at 09:15 AM
That may be true Mark but what goes around comes around....
Posted by: brad | December 05, 2008 at 09:19 AM
OJ should have never been charged in the first place. He should have been in prison 13 years ago for murder!
Posted by: S. Cook | December 05, 2008 at 09:22 AM
As innocent as he may be, let him go to jail where he'll be able to write 'if I did not do it' . Can it be possible that you take down an elephant but brought down by a fly?
Posted by: ALoys | December 05, 2008 at 09:23 AM
Well... it seems that there'd be at least a few other cases in the past that involved, hmmm... intimidation with a firearm in a hotel attached to a casino... would that sum it up?
Or did someone get shot? I thought not, but haven't been tracking this.
Seems to me that the judge will be looking carefully for precedent.
Posted by: Bob Koure | December 05, 2008 at 09:24 AM
Umm.. 'Realistically', he should be immersed whole in a McDonalds fry machine.
Posted by: Bob | December 05, 2008 at 09:33 AM
Oh man this is terrible. How will OJ be able to continue his tireless search for the real killers of his wife while he is locked up in prison?
Posted by: Mike | December 05, 2008 at 09:37 AM
I think that boy has simply got to get his come up'ns. And if he does get a light sentence, well maybe Bubba will straighten him out while he's in the big house.
Posted by: Dr. Helen | December 05, 2008 at 09:38 AM
He's an egotistical psychotic murderer and a complete moron. Instead of living the rest of his life thanking his lucky stars that he got away with murder, he writes a stupid book entitled "If I Did It" and then gets himself into this latest criminal debacle. He deserves exactly what's coming to him. I hope he never sees the outside of a prison from this point on. I know the Goldmans will be elated. They'd probably like to see him get knifed and killed in prison, so he can experience what it was like for Nicole and Ron. Justice is finally gonna get served.
Posted by: scooter | December 05, 2008 at 09:39 AM
Mr London: Nevada has a Conceal Carry Law (CCW) that says you can carry a firearm in plain view as long as it is registered with the state and you carry the permit with you. To get the permit, you must be trained ONE THE EXACT model firearm you are going to carry. The permit is very difficult to obtain. Because Nevada has a few very unique cities, namely Las Vegas and Reno among other smaller towns with casinos, the law specifically forbids carrying a firearm into a casino, even if you HAVE a permit. There is ZERO tolerance for this crime in Nevada for obvious public safety reasons. A minimum 6 year sentence is mandatory if you are caught CARRYING a firearm in a casiono even IF you hold a CCW permit. This is a mandatory sentence for possessing a permitted firearm in a casino even if you do NOT use it to commit a crime. Carrying a weapon into a casino WITHOUT the CCW permit AND committing a crime carries a sentence in Nevada of 15-20. OJ is not in danger of getting a longer sentence for who he his. If he gets anything less than 15-20, he will have been given a SHORTER sentence because of who he is (or who his expensive lawyers are.)
Posted by: David | December 05, 2008 at 09:40 AM
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. My question is now that he becomes a resident of Nevada, does he lose his homestead exemption in Florida for his home there. This would open up the civil judgment being able to take some of his personal and real property. His football pension is stil protected.
Posted by: snseeker | December 05, 2008 at 09:46 AM
One more thing: SImpson did NOT have a CCW permit, he DID carry a weapon into a casino and he was charged with ELEVEN crimes. Not one, ELEVEN. Even using the minimum 15 years associated with committing a crime in a casino using an unpermitted weapon in Nevada (because of who he is, we'll give him the minimum) 11 x 15 = 165 years
Posted by: David | December 05, 2008 at 09:47 AM
O.J. was always my fathers favorite football player so I have followed his life rather
closely. Also we are astral twins. I have no ethnicity bias. I have remained absolutely
objective about him.
I know for a fact that he could not have killed his ex wife and Goldman because they both
were killed execution style with large curved blades, ie arabic knives. Kato his neighbor and another retired law enforcement officer saw six asian men dressed alike run from Nicoles
home around the time of the murders. Intelligence sources reported her being involved with drugs. It would take more than two people to hold each person, tip their heads backwards
and kill them execution style almost severing their heads.
I have taught advanced physics in high school and college for forty five years. I understand Newtonian Physics, there is no humanly way O.J. could have killed both of these people.
I strongly urge Americans to become educatied in science and mathematics. People are
watching movies and tv that are extremely science fiction oriented. Humans tend to be
too subjective in nature.
Remember the people in Iraq who were beheaded, it was difficult to do with six people
holding them. O.J. could not have held each person backwards and practically beheaded them.
Wake up fellow Americans. Stop thinking in terms of science fiction and become educated
in science fact, particularly in mathematics and physics. Then you will know the truth and
not be influenced by incorrect media circus productions.
O.J. was set up for this Las Vegas situation. He could not count on police helping him.
His only crime was being too trusting on people who were not trustworthy. This entire
matter should have not even come to trial. Las Vegas is the science fiction capital of the
planet earth and the police wanted to get some recognition for their never ending efforts.
O.J. should have probably hired some detectives to help him.
It seems obvious that he is a victim of reverse discrimination being punished for crimes he
never commited but because of Americans inability to understand and comprehend
objectivity, science and mathematical principles and subjectively believing the science fiction of the media circus, he has been found guilty.
Posted by: Dr. Marilyn Childs | December 05, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Our legal system favors the rich and famous. But, sometimes the system rises up and makes an example of the very same rich and famous. This is going to be payback unfortunately in the case of OJ, he is going to receive a sentence of 6 years or a combination of a lesser term with parole.
Posted by: N Lee | December 05, 2008 at 09:53 AM
TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER ONLY WITH A SMURK
ALL WHO HAVE GREVED SHOULD SAY HURAH!
HANG HIM HIGH!
Posted by: pixie3 | December 05, 2008 at 09:57 AM
NOW -ALL THAT GRIEVED CAN NOW REST IN PEACE!
MAY HE ROT IN A CELL!
Posted by: pixie3 | December 05, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Dr. Marilyn Childs...oh please....oj didnt do it... all along i thought it was Darth Vader.
Are you saying it is impossible for someone to murder 2 people? Get a clue...another one of our fine liberal experts in our public insititutions. Prove your theory!!! I am sure the element of surprise would have alot to do with ambushing someone and then killing the other. So stick your Newtonian theory in your ear! It can be done.
Posted by: ANN | December 05, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Dr Childs: You criticize Americans for our "inability to comprehend" and then proceed to make up evidence and ignore the facts.
1. OJ was found not guilty, first of all, despite reams of empirical evidence proving he killed his wife and Ron Goldman.
2. Ron Goldman was killed AFTER Nicole was already dead and only a superficial wound to his throat was found. He died from multiple stab wounds, not an "execution style" murder. You are just making things up.
3. OJ Simpson was a professional football player and Nicole weighed less than 100 pounds. The neck wound was one of multiple stab wounds she incurred.
4. There was no testimony that she was involved in drugs. Cochran tried that early on by trying to implicate one of her friends, Faye resnick, but even Cochran changed his tactics because it wasnt working.
4. There is NOT ONE mention in the entire transcript from a cop or Kato Kaelin that anyone saw 6 Asian men running from the scene. Not ONE. This is a complete fabrication on your part.
5. I have more scientific and mathematical background then you will ever have. "Doctor" Childs? Another fabrication on your part.
Posted by: David | December 05, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Well, comparably, he got off easy considering this case and this case alone. He could do 5 years standing on his head. If he's smart. ???
Posted by: Bob E. | December 05, 2008 at 10:29 AM