As you probably know, Simpson, 61, was given his prison sentence today. He was convicted on armed robbery, kidnapping and assault charges in Las Vegas on Oct. 3 — the 13th anniversary of his acquittal in the 1994 murders of his ex-wife and her friend.These things aren't always clear to those who don't work in courtrooms on a regular basis. A judge's sentence can seem to be ambiguous — even, at times, to appeals courts that deal with these kinds of issues on a routine basis.
CNN reports that Simpson will spend "at least 15 years in prison" but "could become eligible for parole in about nine years."
ESPN says Simpson was sentenced to "at least nine years in prison and the likelihood of as many as 19 years."
The Associated Press played up the sensational angle, pointing out that the sentence was "33 years behind bars with eligibility for parole after less than a third of that."
It can get a little baffling.
I think the clearest, most reasonable assessment of the judgment could be found in Melissa Arseniuk's account in the Las Vegas Sun.
Simpson will spend at least nine years in prison in Nevada, Arseniuk writes. The sentence means "the former football star could remain incarcerated until he is 94 years old if denied parole."
And all the other possibilities in between.
The one thing you can count on is that Simpson will be at least a 70-year-old man before he is free again.
My personal opinion is that no parole board will keep Simpson in prison for 33 years. At some point, public opinion will contend that keeping an elderly man in prison for a non-fatal offense amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.
But I'm also inclined to think that — assuming he lives that long — Simpson will spend more than nine years in prison.
And here's one more guess.
Unless Simpson develops severe health problems that rapidly lead to his death, I believe he will eventually be free again.
I find it hard to believe we've heard the last from him.
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