Nevada Supreme Court denies O.J.’s bid for release

Friday, Sept. 4, 2009 | 2:21 p.m.

This is O.J. Simpson's booking photo in Nevada's High Desert State Prison.

Download the court's order

CARSON CITY – The Nevada Supreme Court has denied the petition of former football great O.J. Simpson to be released on bail from prison pending his appeal on convictions of robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas.

The court upheld District Judge Jackie Glass, who said Simpson and co-defendant Clarence Stewart both posed a flight risk.

The court in its twin orders Friday quoted from a prior ruling that a defendant “who has been convicted of a violent, serious offense and who faces a substantial term of imprisonment will shoulder a heavy burden” to demonstrate both factors weigh in favor of allowing bail pending appeal.

The court said Simpson and Stewart were “convicted of serious nonprobationable violent offenses, committed with the use of a firearm.”

The denial to both petitions was signed by Justices Michael Cherry, Nancy Saitta and Mark Gibbons.

Simpson is 62 years old and is held at the state prison in Lovelock. Stewart is 55 and is in prison at the Northern Nevada Correction Center in Carson City.

They were convicted of 12 counts including robbery, first-degree kidnapping and using a deadly weapon.

Simpson and Stewart were found guilty of leading a group of men who used threats, guns and force to take photographs, footballs and other items from memorabilia dealers Bruce Fromong and Al Beardsley in September 2007 in a Las Vegas hotel room.

They were sentenced to a minimum of nine years and a maximum of 33 years in prison.

Their convictions are now on appeal to the Supreme Court.

Discussion: 19 comments so far…

By henderson

9/4/09 at 2:54 p.m.

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Good! He's exactly where he belongs.
By wildman1967

9/4/09 at 3:16 p.m.

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This man needs to pay for his actions, he got what he deserved.
By danutz

9/4/09 at 3:31 p.m.

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The clown pictured above it a complete Jack Azz.. I would spit on him if saw him.
By SteveJenkins

9/4/09 at 4:47 p.m.

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I hope he has to do the full 33 years and lives long enough to enjoy every minute of it. My hats off to Judge Glass. O J would run if given the chance. I'll be watching for the appeal decision.
By enidlv

9/4/09 at 4:57 p.m.

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OJ will run! Just from the crime he committed this time, he thinks he is above the law. come on --- a gun, just to get a couple for things back. He has millions! Let him buy them like everyone else. LET HIM STAY in prison forever!
By revtomperl

9/4/09 at 5:25 p.m.

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Wow, truly hateful bigoted comments that have no relationship to the dispute among crooks which actually took place. The courts are screwing the people of Nevada by inappropriately imprisoning oj and his friend. There are two many people in prison and these two are among those who pose no threat to society and should not be where they are. May each of you smile when you face the final judgment! OJ is not a role model - but neither are most of us!
By LarryVegas

9/4/09 at 6:20 p.m.

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No threat to society? Tell that to Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. Oops, I guess you can't tell them because OJ killed them...
By bdover

9/4/09 at 6:24 p.m.

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I agree. OJ is not a role model, but he led a quiet life in Miami after his acquittal in his previous case. His wife was cheating on him, and God knows how many good and bad people she was cavorting with. He subsequently mostly played golf, and stayed out of the limelight in Florida. He now does not have access to his NFL pension of $17,000 a month while in prison. This is wrong. Hopefully, the Nevada Supreme Court will allow Mr. Simpson to live free on bond during his appeal.

Sincerely,

Barry Scheck
By Rooster

9/4/09 at 6:37 p.m.

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Simpson is removing skidmarks in the crappers at prison....Doesn't Legarrett Blount from Oregon remind you of OJ?
By Rooster

9/4/09 at 6:37 p.m.

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God Bless Jackie Glass!
By term25600

9/4/09 at 7:26 p.m.

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This is a case of law being used to avenge another supposed crime, and thats all there is to it.

How is that the actual person holding the 'gun' didnt go to prison, only OJ? All OJ did was influence them to do what they did; he didnt hold a gun to THEIR heads to make them do it, did he?

I am sure that if it was some no name person, he would be walking the streets today. This judge just used her powers to make OJ pay for past actions.

Thats not fair, its double jeopardy.
By geenab65

9/4/09 at 7:27 p.m.

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Revtomperl, I am an African American female. I have to disagree with you. OJ and his friend should have been imprisoned for what they did. What they did was violent and wrong. OJ KNOWS he should have called the police and his stupid friend should have hold him, "Naw, man, it's not that deep".
Yes, there are too many people in prison but like Sammy sang in the theme song to Baretta says, "Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time".
By Lenny_V

9/5/09 at 12:25 a.m.

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Excessive punishment, there's no doubt about that but nobody who was convicted is released pending appeal unless they were law enforcement.
By DessertSun

9/5/09 at 2:14 a.m.

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Well what do ya know! About time he was put in his place. He's made such a mockery out of our judicial system that I believe he believes he could do anything he wanted without being held accountable. OJ Simpson, what a LOSER!
By Harley

9/5/09 at 11:44 a.m.

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Let the Juice loose and off the Nevada taxpayer's tab.

:)
By spock

9/5/09 at 1:11 p.m.

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If you think this jackass was just "chillin "in florida,You need to do some research. You can start with his own daughter.
By spocanon

9/5/09 at 6:24 p.m.

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I wonder if OJ has found Nicole's killer yet?
By ivegotcha

9/6/09 at 1:57 p.m.

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what, he did not live quietly in florida I read where we was pirateing cable. Which carries a $10,000 fine.....