O.J. Simpson Appears Before Parole Board in Nevada

O.J. Simpson is appearing before a parole board to ask to be released after nine years in a Nevada prison.

The former football star, who was acquitted for a double murder in 1995, is serving time for armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and 11 other charges.

The sentence, which carries a maximum of 33 years, stems from a 2007 confrontation at a Las Vegas hotel.

O.J. Simpson, 70, had said he was only trying to reclaim his possessions.

He was found guilty in 2008 – exactly 13 years to the day after he was famously acquitted for the killings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.

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O.J. Simpson and a group of five others stormed into a hotel room to confront two sports-memorabilia collectors to seize items that he claimed belonged to him from his own career.

The hearing for Prisoner 1027820 is happening at the Lovelock Correctional Facility, a medium security prison in the Nevada desert.

Parole panelist Connie Bisbee told him as July 20 hearing began: “Mr. Simpson, you are getting the same hearing that everyone else gets.”

“Sure,” he replied in a husky voice with a shrug and a smile.

“Thank you, ma’am.”

O.J. Simpson told parole officials that the objects he took from the Las Vegas hotel room were later ruled by officials to legally belong to him.

One panelist asked: “So you believe that the property was yours?”

“It’s been ruled legally by the state of California,” he responded, leaning forward and raising his voice.

O.J. Simpson said the belongings, which he described as images of his family and friends, was later handed over to him by officials.

“It’s kind of mind-boggling that they turned over to me property that I’m in jail for, for trying to retrieve.”

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If four out of seven members of the parole board vote in favor of his release, he could be free by October.

Experts believe O.J. Simpson is likely to be approved for release, after a record of good behavior at the Lovelock prison.

Another panelist asked the former football star if he had completed a specific self-improvement course since his last parole hearing.

O.J. Simpson said he had not, but that he had taken another course called “alternative to violence”.

“I think it’s the most important course anyone in this prison can take because it teaches you how to deal with conflict through conversation,” he said.

“I’ve spent a conflict-free life,” he continued, when asked if he had completed an anti-violence course.

O.J. Simpson also told the commissioners he had had helped establish a Baptist prayer event, adding: “I could have been a better Christian.”

He also rejected the suggestion that he had an alcohol problem.

In 2013, the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners granted O.J. Simpson parole on some of his convictions, but for not the more violent charges.

Bruce Fromong, who one of O.J. Simpson’s victims in the robbery, is expected to testify in favor of his release.