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UPDATE: O.J. Simpson was released at 12:08 a.m. Pacific Time, Sunday. That was just minutes after his parole could have begun.
O.J. Simpson out of prison after 9 years for armed robbery
Simpson was released at 12:08 a.m. PDT from Lovelock Correctional Center in northern Nevada, state prisons spokeswoman Brooke Keast told The Associated Press. She said she did not know the driver who met Simpson upon his release and didn’t know where Simpson was immediately headed in his first hours of freedom.
“I don’t have any information on where he’s going,” said Keast, who watched as Simpson signed documents and was let go.
Her department released video on social media of Simpson being told to “come on out” by a prison staffer, exiting through an open door. He could be seen responding “OK” as he left, wearing a ball cap, denim jacket, jeans and white tennis shoes.
Tom Scotto, a close Simpson friend who lives in Naples, Florida, said by text message that he was with Simpson following his release. Scotto didn’t respond to questions about where they were going or whether Simpson’s sister, Shirley Baker of Sacramento, California, or his daughter, Arnelle Simpson of Fresno, California, were with him.
Florida Attorney General Pam Biondi wasted no time telling the world that O.J. Simpson is not welcome back in the Sunshine State. Simpson, whose release is imminent after serving nine years in a Nevada prison, expressed through his lawyer that he wanted to move back to Florida. Though Biondi had not received any documents from Nevada officials, she wrote in a letter to Florida Department of Corrections secretary Julie Jones, “The specter of his residing in comfort in Florida should not be an option.”
Simpson could be released as early as Monday, but TMZ reported Nevada officials may change the schedule due to a potential “swarm” of media at the release point. After his release, O.J. will live, for now, in a gated community outside Las Vegas.
Florida is his preferred residence since the state’s “homestead act” protects his primary residence from creditors. His youngest children also live there. Simpson still owes well over $30 million to the families of his former wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman–the result of a civil wrongful death suit Simpson lost in 1997. The Daily Mail reported that Simpson is asking up to $5 million for his first post-prison interview.
Simpson still receives his monthly NFL pension, which is also protected from creditors. Upon his release, he will have to comply with the terms of his parole, which will certainly include drug testing, regular contact with his parole officers, and other requirements. In order to move to Florida, he will need permission from both Nevada and Florida corrections officials. It’s unlikely he’ll get that, based on Biondi’s letter.
Perspectives
Florida AG Pam Bondi: O.J. Simpson not welcome in the Sunshine State
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said Friday that her state “objects” to Simpson returning to Florida to serve parole after he is released from a Nevada prison.
“Floridians are well aware of Mr. Simpson’s background, his wanton disregard for the lives of others, and of his scofflaw attitude with respect to the heinous acts for which he has been found civilly liable,” Bondi said. “The specter of his residing in comfort in Florida should not be an option … Our state should not become a country club for this convicted criminal.”
Florida doesn’t want O.J. Simpson when he’s released from prison – CBSSports.com
Simpson has been incarcerated at Lovelock Correctional Center in Nevada since 2008 after he was sentenced to 33 years in prison — nine years minimum — for multiple charges, which included burglary, robbery, kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon. Simpson was granted parole on July 20 by four members of the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners, and that made him eligible for release on Sunday, Oct. 1.
“He’s really looking forward to the simple pleasures. Seeing his family on the outside, spending time with them, eating food that’s not packaged,” Simpson’s attorney Malcolm LaVergne told “Good Morning America,” adding that the former football star wants to eat steak and get a new iPhone once he’s released.
O.J. Simpson to focus on ‘friends, family and golf’ after release – CNN
Las Vegas (CNN)The last leg of O.J. Simpson’s odyssey to freedom will cut through one of the grayest, most desolate stretches of America. Signposts suggest it will end at one of the country’s most affluent green enclaves.
O.J.’s Release May Be Blocked … Prison Doesn’t Want ‘Another Diana’ | TMZ.com
Officials for the Nevada Dept. of Corrections tell TMZ, if the release point — 30 miles outside of Vegas — is swarmed by media, O.J. will not be set free. As one prison official put it, “We don’t want another Princess Diana situation” … the fear being a chase that could result in injury or death.
The concern is not just Simpson. Prison officials say they’re worried innocent bystanders might be mowed down in a chase.
Prison officials say they’ve been notified media from all over the world will be at the release point and they believe European media is even more aggressive than American paparazzi and think the line will almost certainly be crossed.
OJ Simpson wants $5MILLION for first post-prison interview | Daily Mail Online
Simpson’s team has reportedly reached out to several outlets to gauge interest. It’s unknown if the interest is mutual, but the former football star is said to ask for anywhere between $3million and $5million.
Some possible names expected to snag the first interview are NBC’s Matt Lauer, Megyn Kelly or Lester Holt; ABC’s Robin Roberts and Michael Strahan; or CBS’s newest ’60 Minutes’ correspondent Oprah Winfrey.
Reactions
When OJ Simpson gets out, 2 questions for you:
1) Would you watch his 1st sit down interview?
2) Who do you want to see him interviewed by?— Lisa Guerrero ?? (@4lisaguerrero) September 30, 2017
OJ Simpson is getting released from prison and there's 'no doubt' he's going to live in Floridahttps://t.co/CPPgnFEdpy pic.twitter.com/2BDyXiWP2l
— National Post (@nationalpost) September 30, 2017
With so much negativity in the world right now, I'd like to congratulate OJ Simpson on going 8,508 consecutive days without killing anyone.
— NotKennyRogers (@NotKennyRogers) September 27, 2017
Final thoughts
This was inevitable. O.J. Simpson was a model prisoner. Eventually, he was going to be paroled, and here it is. Everyone in the celebrity-obsessed media will want to talk to him, and some will be willing to pay. He has his NFL pension, so he can live fairly well. Does he deserve to spend the rest of his days playing golf and eating steak in Florida? Not really. But he’ll spend them nonetheless doing those things in Nevada.
I personally think everyone should just ignore Simpson and let him quietly go away. But not in Florida.
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