Simpson guilty in Vegas kidnapping, robbery

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Saturday, October 04, 2008

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LAS VEGAS — O.J. Simpson, who went from American sports idol to celebrity-in-exile after he was acquitted of murder in 1995, was found guilty Friday of robbing two sports-memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel room.

Simpson, 61, could spend the rest of his life in prison. Sentencing was set for Dec. 5.

A weary and somber Simpson released a heavy sigh as the charges were read by the clerk in Clark County District Court. He was immediately taken into custody.

The Hall of Fame football star was convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery and 10 other charges for gathering up five men a year ago and storming into a room at a hotel-casino, where the group seized several game balls, plaques and photos.

Prosecutors said two of the men with him were armed; one of them said Simpson asked him to bring a gun.

The verdict came 13 years to the day after Simpson was cleared of murdering his ex-wife and a friend of hers in Los Angeles in one of the most sensational trials of the 20th century.

Simpson’s co-defendant, Clarence “C.J.” Stewart, 54, also was found guilty on all charges and taken into custody.

Simpson showed little emotion as officers handcuffed him and walked him out of the courtroom.

His sister, Carmelita Durio, sobbed behind him.

As spectators left the courtroom, Durio collapsed and paramedics were called, court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer said.

Jurors made no eye contact with the defendants.

Judge Jackie Glass made no comment other than to thank the jury for its service and to deny motions for the defendants to be released on bail.

She refused to give the lawyers extended time to file a motion for new trial, which under Nevada law must be filed within seven days.

26 comment(s)

SouthNapa wrote on Oct 4, 2008 12:37 AM:

" It's 13 years too late, but justice has finally been served. Hopefully he is put in the general prison population. Good riddance. "

Straight Talk wrote on Oct 4, 2008 1:14 AM:

" Finally - something resembling justice. "

Firewater wrote on Oct 4, 2008 5:59 AM:

" Thank You Justice System, at last the blindfold came off.
Justice Served..Yeh "

bmxdad wrote on Oct 4, 2008 7:49 AM:

" The only real positive in this situation is that the State of Nevada gets to pay for his incarceration instead of California.

The Juice ain't loose no more! "

Raven wrote on Oct 4, 2008 8:03 AM:

" and how many people believe none of the jurors took the results of the previous trial into account while they were deliberating? "

Dwayne wrote on Oct 4, 2008 9:13 AM:

" Raven you are right...

No reasonable person can believe that jurors did not consider the outcome of the most famous murder trial 13-years ago to have had no influence in their deliberations...

You can give all the lip service you want to about how the jurors followed the judge's instructions and adhered to their oath, but (wink-wink) we all know that isn't true...

Thank God that those twelve people believed in jury nullification.... "

109823 wrote on Oct 4, 2008 9:33 AM:

" I guess the gloves finally fit! It's to bad though he'll have a tough time looking for Ron and Nicoles' killer in prison. "

sammy wrote on Oct 4, 2008 10:53 AM:

" How ironic that justice was served 13 yrs to the day after he was set free for the murder of Nicole and Ron.

Justice has finally been served. And you're right, Thank God those twelve people believed in jury nullification.

I'm so happy for the Goldman family and the Brown Family "

iamfalconer wrote on Oct 4, 2008 11:00 AM:

" Finally, all waiters can sleep peacefully! "

steph wrote on Oct 4, 2008 11:09 AM:

" Yep, Raven.

That's where common sense prevails. Technically legal or not, right prevailed over wrong in this case.

Finally. "

Baraki wrote on Oct 4, 2008 12:17 PM:

" Haha -- I read the headline and for .5 seconds I thought they were talking about ex-Sheriff Gary Simpson! I couldn't believe he would be involved in a robbery! Then I remembered OJ... "

tiredofcomplainingnapkins wrote on Oct 4, 2008 12:45 PM:

" I hope he doesn't get the maximum penatly aloud. This is a pretty disgusting case if you read into it. Some guys set him up and taped recorded the whole incident with the sole purpose of selling to recordings and making money. First these guys stole his personal belongings then set him up to make money of him trying to retrieve what was rightfully his. Its true that OJ should have called the police and he went about retrieving his property in the wrong way but that doesn't warrant life in prison. Espically considering all the other shady characters in this case. He should have been locked up 13 years ago but this is how are justice system works and it should keep working for him and keep him out of prison for a long period of time. There was never any intent to kidnapp or rob anyone, he just wanted to go get back what was rightfully his "

crusherfan wrote on Oct 4, 2008 2:16 PM:

" He was set up, no doubt.He didnt call the police because he was supposed to give up all of his memorbilla to the Goldmen family for the civil suit.It's hard to believe that they cannot go back to the old case and use today's DNA technology. "

napanana wrote on Oct 4, 2008 3:07 PM:

" Tiredofcomplainingnapkins: Thank You for your well educated in-put. The Judge and All 12 of the Jurors must not have heard the case facts like you did. You are so right.....Poor O.J. wrongfully convicted of these trumped up charges........he just wanted his stuff back. And the Browns and Goldmans just want their loved ones back too....... You always manage to say the right thing?
May his innocent behind rot in prison..... "

MarkMiwords wrote on Oct 4, 2008 4:48 PM:

" Good! Just because he got away with murder 13 years ago, doesn't mean he should get away with this. I hope he rots in jail. I also hope the football commission revokes his hall-of-fame status. And if he was "set up", oh poor baby. It's pretty hard to feel sorry for a double murderer. "

Raven wrote on Oct 4, 2008 4:51 PM:

" whether you think he should have been convicted or not in the previous trail, using this trial to right a perceived wrong demeans the entire justice system... "

Mike Staleeny wrote on Oct 4, 2008 5:08 PM:

" O.J. was a good friend of mine, can always depend on him to get the job. it's too bad the system had to turn on him, we lost a good man. an appeal will come, and he will be a free man once again. "

Dwayne wrote on Oct 4, 2008 6:40 PM:

" Raven wrote on Oct 4, 2008 4:51 PM:
" whether you think he should have been convicted or not in the previous trail, using this trial to right a perceived wrong demeans the entire justice system... "

You're right, and the entire justice system deserves demeaning... Jury's are incredibly manipulated by withholding information "by rule of law"...

OJ belongs in the slammer for life, and no one in their right mind denies that... "

MarkMiwords wrote on Oct 4, 2008 6:59 PM:

" Mr. Staleeny: Mr. Simpson was found guilty of a double murder in a civil court. He was convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery and 10 other charges. Sorry if you consider him a friend, but "good men" do not do these sorts of things. "

Raven wrote on Oct 4, 2008 7:47 PM:

" mark, he was found responsible, not guilty, and in a civil court not a criminal....lower standards of evidence were needed....a big difference in legal term "

109823 wrote on Oct 4, 2008 8:29 PM:

" Crusherfan, I agree, but as I remember they had some pretty good DNA, OJs blood at the scene, Ron and Nicoles blood in the Bronco and in the sink drains at OJs house. It was all just presented poorly in the trial and the "Dream Team" accused the LAPD of tampering and planting evidence at the scenes. "

tiredofcomplainingnapkins wrote on Oct 4, 2008 9:07 PM:

" To napaana,
you didn't read my comment, i totally agree he shouldv'e been convicted 13 years ago and sent to prison for murder, but he wasn't and the way are system worked set him free. What i'm saying is in this case he shouldn't face the maximum penalty because what he did dosen't deserve the maximum penalty. He didn't kidnapp a random person off the street, rob them, and hold them against there will. If he was never involved in the earlier murder trial and someone did this to him then EVERYONE would be crying to set him free. You have to look at the facts in this case. Someone puposely recorded him for the sole purpose of making money off of this encounter. SOunds pretty fishy to me "

suze wrote on Oct 4, 2008 10:12 PM:

" Sweet - But I do feel truly sorry for his kids. Families suffer a lot when parents are in jail (or dead!) Hopefully, other members will give them the love and support they need. "

Napa wrote on Oct 4, 2008 10:12 PM:

" The thought of a life prison term is where this scumbag belongs. "

cellsitegod wrote on Oct 17, 2008 6:03 AM:

" What do you bet, after he is sentenced and theres no way he's getting out any time soon.
He opens up more about Nicole.
Just like he did with that book. "

14obama wrote on Oct 17, 2008 10:04 AM:

" You'll find new friends,"Staleeny"! Maybe next time it'll be Jesus Christ. OJ's ego did him in,simple as that. EGO=easing God out "

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