O.J. Simpson Is About To Be A Free Man

After nearly nine years in prison, Orenthal James Simpson popularly known as O.J. Simpson will be released from the Nevada Lovelock Correctional Center as early as Oct. 1, 2017. A panel of four parole commissioners granted him parole today with a total of four unanimous votes.

O.J. was set to serve a 9- to 33-year sentence at the prison a sentencing that came after he was convicted in 2008 of kidnapping and armed robbery, along with 10 other charges. At the time of the 2008 trial, prosecutors said the Hall of Famer (along with five other men) were armed with deadly weapons when they walked into a Las Vegas casino hotel room back in September 2007 where they stole memorabilia such as signed game balls and photos.

Four co-defendants pleaded guilty to felony charges before the trial and later testified for the prosecution. O.J.'s defense team, on the other hand, argued that the athlete was simply trying to retrieve his personal items that had been previously stolen.

During the hearing, Simpson stuck to that defense, reiterating that he was trying to get back what he said was personal, stolen property, including intimate family photos and documents of his accomplishments. He noted that he's been clean over the last nearly nine years of his prison sentence and is ready to return to life as a free man.

He said “I do have four kids. I've missed a lot of time with those kids, I think I'm a guy who's always been a giving guy—even on the street. People have always come up to me. My reputation has always been that I'm open to the public. I'm open to everybody. Right now I'm at a point in my life where all I want to do is spend time with my children and my friends. I've done my time. I've done it as respectfully as anyone can...I've not complained for nine years...I want to get back to my kids and my family.”