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LAS VEGAS - Former football star O.J. Simpson has been sentenced to prison for a botched attempt to recover sports mementos and personal items from two collectibles peddlers.
He will be eligible for parole in six years.
"You can't take back your own property by force," said Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass. "This is not behavior we can say this is OK, don't worry."
"You went to the room, you took guns, you used force, you took property, whether it was yours or someone else's, and in this state that amounts to armed robbery," Glass said.
Minutes before his sentence, Simpson apologized to the judge and said he didn’t mean to steal from anybody when he tried to retrieve memorabilia.
Simpson made his statement in a soft voice that was somewhat hoarse.
He appeared ready to break down in tears as he told Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass that he was “sorry and confused” before going into a rambling, 5-minute declaration.
"I didn’t want to steal anything from anyone ... I’m sorry, sorry," he said.
Glass also ruled before sentencing that Simpson cannot be freed on bail pending possible appeal.
In earlier proceedings, neither Simpson, who was acquitted of the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife and her friend in Los Angeles, nor his co-defendant and former golfing buddy, Clarence "C.J. Stewart, testified at trial. They were convicted Oct. 3 of 12 criminal charges, including kidnapping and armed robbery, and face mandatory prison time — a minimum of six years and up to life.
Judge known for severe sentences
Judges in Nevada have broad discretion in determining whether to run sentences consecutively or at the same time. Glass, known for giving severe sentences, can ignore or accept a recommendation from the state parole agency calling for at least 18 years.
She received written pleas for leniency from defense lawyers and was expected to rule on a request to let Simpson post bail and be freed from jail while he appeals his conviction. The judge already denied the men's request for a new trial.
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