Image Source: ABC News-Walt Disney, Rolling Stone

O.J. Simpson is an American former football running back, broadcaster, actor, and advertising spokesman. O.J. Simpson was once a popular figure in the United States before he was known for being tried for the murders of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman. 

On June 12th, 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman, were found stabbed to death outside Nicole’s condo in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles, and O.J. Simpson was the person of interest. Although reports mentioned that O.J. Simpson was in Los Angeles on the evening of June 12th, he took a late flight that night to Chicago.

On June 17th, 1994, the prosecutors ordered O.J. Simpson to surrender, but instead, the former football player fled in a white Ford Bronco with his friend Al Cowlings. There was a slow-speed chase between O.J. Simpson and the police, which eventually led to the Southern California freeways standing still and drew the television network's audience of 95 million Americans. O.J. Simpson finally surrendered and was arrested.

O.J. Simpson was accused of stabbing his wife Nicole Brown Simpson. Image Source: Newsweek

In 1995, O.J. Simpson’s trial was started, and defense attorneys claimed that he was wrongly accused, but the prosecutors argued otherwise and stated that O.J. Simpson was a controlling husband and had abused Nicole Brown Simpson. The prosecutors also mentioned that there were some blood from the crime scene found in O.J. Simpson’s car and home and the fact that he was unaccounted for more than an hour on the night of the killings. 

During the trial proceedings against O.J. Simpson, the prosecution asked him to wear the gloves that were believed to have been worn by the killer, and those gloves did not fit O.J. Simpson properly. Then defense attorney Johnnie Cochran told the jury in his closing argument, "If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit." On October 3rd, 1995, after 267 days of trial that included 1,105 pieces of evidence and 13 witnesses, O.J. Simpson was acquitted of all the accusations and criminal charges of killing of his wife and her friend and has always maintained his innocence.

O.J. Simpson was asked to wear the gloves who was believed to be of the killer. Image Source: CBS News 

In 1997, the former football player was found liable for wrongful death in the double murder and was ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages to the Brown and Goldman families. According to The Los Angeles Times, Ron Goldman’s father, Fred Goldman, said that O.J. has never honored or paid one single penny of the judgment.

In 2007, O.J. Simpson, along with a group of men, walked into a Las Vegas hotel and casino to steal sports memorabilia at gunpoint which he claimed that it was his. He was later charged with several felony counts, including kidnapping and armed robbery. In 2008, O.J. Simpson was found guilty of the botched robbery and sentenced to up to 33 years in prison.

Bruce Fromong, one of the two dealers who were robbed, also testified against O.J. Simpson and said that he burst into the room with others and screamed, "This all belongs to me. You stole this from me. " He further added that the group took items that had nothing to do with O.J. Simpson, which included lithographs of football great Joe Montana. Bruce Fromong finally added that when he protested, someone pointed a gun at his face.

While announcing the verdict, Judge Jackie Glass said to O.J. Simpson, "Earlier in this case, at a bail hearing, I asked, I said, to Mr. Simpson, I didn’t know if he was arrogant or ignorant or both." And during the trial and through this proceeding, I got this answer, and it was both. That was not an, 'Oh, just give me my stuff back. I want my stuff.' That was, 'Nobody left the room.' That was a very violent event... At least one gun was drawn. The potential for harm to occur in that room was tremendous. When you take a gun with you, and you take men with you, to show, in a show of force, that's not just a, 'Hey, give me my stuff back.’ I can't ignore that the behavior at the time on September 13 was reckless. The law was broken."

A still from O.J. Simpson's trial. Image Source: WBUR

O.J. Simpson apologized for his actions and said that he did not know that what he was doing was illegal. O.J. Simpson’s plea for a new trial was rejected in 2013 but was granted parole in 2017 on some charges and based on his good behavior. On October 1, 2017, O.J. Simpson walked out of the Lovelock Correctional Institute in Nevada and his attorney, Malcolm LaVergne, said, "O.J. Simpson wants to enjoy the very simple pleasures that he hasn't enjoyed in nine years."

During his time in prison, O.J. Simpson spent some time coaching prison sports while doing his time. Former Lovelock Correctional Center inmate Randy Gaess told The Los Angeles Times that "he would [umpire] behind home plate because there was little movement necessary. We would talk if we had to about the calls. "

O.J. Simpson’s close and longtime friend, Tom Scotto, also added to his attorney’s statement, stating, "All he wants to do is spend time with his family and friends and his kids." And play a little golf. " Now, O.J. has been on parole since October 2017, which followed a nine-year prison stint on various charges, and was scheduled to be discharged from his parole on February 9th, 2022, but Nevada State Police’s Division of Parole and Probation sent an early discharge request to the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners.

O.J. Simpson was granted an early discharge. Image Source: Global Times

The Nevada State Police representative, Kim Yoko Smith, said in a news release, "A decision to grant early discharge from parole was ratified on December 6, 2021. Per NRS 213.1543, the Board awarded credits in an amount equal to the time remaining on the sentence to reduce the sentence to time served". O.J. Simpson’s attorney, Malcolm LaVergne, said, "Mr. Simpson is a completely free man now". According to state laws, parolees can earn credits for complying with the conditions of their supervision.

O.J. Simpson was reached out for a comment but declined an interview, and his attorney, Malcolm LaVergne, also declined to talk about O.J. Simpson’s plans, which also included whether he’d stay in Nevada or not.