O.J. Simpson to get higher protective custody in prison

By Cy Ryan

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008 | 11:57 a.m.

CARSON CITY – O. J. Simpson will likely remain in a single prison cell for several months to guard against another inmate attempting to attack him to gain fame, a state correction official says.

Howard Skolnik, director of the state Department of Corrections, said Simpson is not considered a high security risk and probably won’t be sent to the state prison in Ely, where the most dangerous inmates, including those on death row, are confined.

But, he said, Simpson would receive higher “protective custody” because Simpson “might be the vehicle for somebody else becoming famous.”

“If you were a young gang member trying to make a name for yourself or just any inmate trying to make a name for yourself looking for your 15 minutes of fame, OJ would be a great vehicle to get there,” Skolnik said.

Simpson was transferred Monday from the Clark County jail to the High Desert State Prison in Southern Nevada for 21-days of evaluation before a decision is made where to locate him. His co-defendant Clarence “CJ” Stewart was received today at the High Desert State Prison. The two will not mingle during the assessment process.

Skolnik said at a news conference at the Nevada State Prison that Simpson and Stewart could be located in the same prison after their evaluation. But, he said, that will depend on the assessment.

Once assigned a permanent location, Simpson will be permitted to have visitors.

The director stressed Simpson would not receive any special treatment.

Simpson, 61, was sentenced to 9-33 years in prison after being convicted of the robbery of two memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a hotel room in Las Vegas in September 2007. Skolnik said Simpson would probably come up for his first parole hearing in five years from the first of his several sentences.

Stewart, 54, received 7 years to 27 years.

Asked if Simpson was considered a high security risk, Skolnik said, “Not really. The high security aspect of this is frankly all the notoriety that he’s been given, not the nature of the offenses. The offenses themselves are pretty representative of the prison population.”

If he was not given this much attention, Simpson would probably go to one of the medium security prisons where he would be in the general population, Skolnik said.

During the 21 day evaluation, he will be given medical and psychiatric examination and interviewed before determining where he will be placed.

The director said Simpson so far has been cooperative.

Asked why the extra precaution is being taken, Skolnik said “serious consideration” is being given to locating Simpson in a single cell “given some of the information we have been provided by Clark County and other sources.”

The director refused to divulge what that “information” entails.

While Simpson is in prison, his appeal will be processed to the Nevada Supreme Court. But it may be a year after filing the briefs that the court makes a decision.