It is my sincere hope that this is the last image of OJ Simpson that we will be seeing for many, many, many years to come. Enjoy prison, OJ!

[Photo credit: Splash News]

A Las Vegas judge sentenced fallen gridiron great O.J. Simpson to at least 15 years in prison for leading an armed hotel room confrontation over sports memorabilia in 2007. Simpson could become eligible for parole in about nine years. Grimacing, his head cast down, Simpson was escorted from the courtroom in shackles. Judge Jackie Glass gave Simpson a tongue-lashing before passing sentence. “Earlier in this case, at a bail hearing, I said to Mr. Simpson I didn’t know if he was arrogant, ignorant or both,” Glass said. “During the trial and through this proceeding I got the answer, and it was both.” She stressed that the sentence was not “payback for anything else,” apparently referring to Simpson’s acquittal 13 years ago in the slayings of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman. His voice shaking, Simpson had apologized in court and insisted he was merely trying to recover property that had been stolen from his family. He was convicted of leading a group of armed men into a room at Palace Station Hotel and Casino, where they planned to take sports memorabilia from dealers Bruce Fromong and Al Beardsley. “I stand here today sorry, somewhat confused. I feel apologetic to people of state of Nevada,” Simpson began. At times, he appeared to be fighting tears as he spoke. The judge said Simpson’s contrite words in court were not as powerful as his angry words, as caught on tape, during the confrontation. “Everything in this case was on tape,” Glass said. “The evidence in this case was overwhelming.” She continued, “You went to the room. You took guns. You used force. You took property, and in this state, that amounts to robbery with the use of a deadly weapon.” Simpson, who wore blue jail scrubs to court for Friday’s sentencing, did not testify during his trial. He was convicted of armed robbery, kidnapping and assault on October 3 — 13 years to the day after his Los Angeles murder trial ended with an acquittal. Simpson’s tone became more impassioned as he insisted he never intended to intimidate people or steal property. “I didn’t want to steal anything from anybody,” Simpson said, adding that among the items he sought to recover were a wedding ring for his daughter and family photos for his son. “I just wanted my personal things. I was stupid. I’m sorry. I didn’t know I was doing anything illegal. I thought I was confronting friends. I thought I was retrieving my things. I didn’t mean to hurt anybody and I didn’t mean to steal anything,” Simpson said. Simpson and co-defendant C.J. Stewart could have received life sentences for their roles in the 2007 confrontation at a Las Vegas hotel.

It seems very clear to me that the judge in this case was merely doing her duty in making sure that a convicted criminal serve an adequate sentence in prison in order to pay back his debt to society for THESE crimes he was convicted of. That being said — fate is fate, karma is karma and justice usually finds a way of being served. That OJ Simpson thought he could brandish weapons in order to “not steal” property that he believed was his is totally stupid and foolish (just like he admitted in open court today). To pay for those crimes, he is going to have to rot in jail for a very long time. I say, good riddance. To me, the man belongs behind bars … he has no concept of right and wrong (as is evident by his bungled burglary attempt) and is due for a hard lesson. Enjoy prison, OJ. You absolutely got what you deserve.

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Former gridiron great O.J. Simpson was found guilty Friday of all 12 counts in the armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers at a Las Vegas, Nevada, casino hotel last year. Simpson, 61, and his co-defendant Clarence “C.J.” Stewart, 54, were charged with a dozen offenses stemming from the sports memorabilia heist. Stewart was found guilty of the same charges as Simpson. Simpson sat quietly and showed little emotion at the defense table as courtroom clerk Sandra Jeter read the verdicts. After the verdicts were read, deputies immediately handcuffed Simpson and led him out of the courtroom. Simpson and Stewart were charged with 12 counts, including conspiracy to commit a crime, robbery, assault and kidnapping with a deadly weapon … Simpson and Stewart could spend the rest of their lives in prison for these convictions. Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass set sentencing for December 5 … The jury of nine men and three women, none of them African-American, reached its verdict after 13 hours of deliberations Friday. Jurors heard from 22 witnesses over 12 days of testimony. Chief among the witnesses were seven of the nine people inside Room 1203 of the Palace Station Hotel and Casino for the September 13, 2007, confrontation … Prosecutors alleged that the men, led by Simpson, burst into the room, flashed a gun and threatened memorabilia dealers Bruce Fromong and Al Beardsley. The men then filled two pillowcases with Simpson trinkets, signed Pete Rose baseballs and Joe Montana lithographs. Simpson’s defense attorneys maintained their client was merely trying to retrieve personal photographs and other mementos that belonged to him. Neither Simpson nor Stewart testified during the trial. Instead, their attorneys savaged the motives of the other witnesses. Galanter said Simpson was a target of investigators from the very beginning. The case “has taken on a life of its own because of Mr. Simpson’s involvement,” he added. “Every cooperator, every person who had a gun, every person who had an ulterior motive, every person who signed a book deal, every person who got paid money, the police, the district attorney’s office is only interested in one thing: Mr. Simpson,” Galanter said … The most compelling evidence for all sides came from the audiotapes. For the prosecution, conversations taped by collectibles middleman Thomas Riccio took jurors from the poolside planning to the profanity-laced hotel room confrontation.

I’m not even going to go into my personal beliefs about OJ Simpson. I absolutely remember his trial back in 1995 and his horribly smug attitude afterward. I kinda had a suspicion that the man would end up getting into trouble again … and here he is, a man convicted on 12 counts of armed robbery, facing life in prison. Things tend to work out the way they’re supposed to … I really believe that. Whether or not Simpson gets sentenced to a life behind bars come December 5, I believe he will finally be punished according to his crimes … and it’s long overdue.

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