O.J. Simpson Convicted of Kidnapping and Armed Robbery

Simpson's sentencing hearing has been set for December 5. Failing a successful motion for a new trial or appeal, he could spend most of the rest of his life in jail.

LAS VEGAS (Catholic Online) - 61 year old O.J. Simpson has been found guilty by a jury of his peers of kidnapping, armed robbery and 10 other related charges.

The allegations arose out of an incident where Simpson, accompanied by five other men, illegally entered a Hotel room a year ago and seized sports memorabilia which he claimed were his own property. Two of the men, not including Simpson, were armed.

Simpson's sentencing hearing has been set for December 5. Failing a successful motion for a new trial or appeal, he could spend most of the rest of his life in jail.

O.J. Simpson is a former football legend and member of the Hall of Fame. He also pursued a brief acting career, mostly in comedic spoofs. However, his notoriety increased in 1995 when he was acquitted of the brutal murder of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in Los Angeles.

In a strange twist of irony, the verdict in this trial came down 13 years to the day of that acquittal. Since that sensational murder trial, Simpson has been in a kind of self imposed exile from the public eye.

When the verdict was read aloud, Simpson breathed a guttural sigh and was immediately taken into custody. His sister Carmelita Durio collapsed and long time friend Tom Scotto seemed shocked. The man known as "the Juice" was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs.

Famed Defense Attorney Yale Galanter told reporters: "I don't like to use the word payback.... I can tell you from the beginning my biggest concern ... was whether or not the jury would be able to separate their very strong feelings about Mr. Simpson and judge him fairly and honestly."

He has pledged to file an Appeal noting, "His only hope is the appellate process."

Simpson's lawyers argued throughout the Trial that the entire incident was a botched attempt to reclaim property which belonged to Simpson. They further argued that he was unaware of the presence of any guns and had not asked any of the companions accompanying him to bring them. They attempted to paint their client as a victim of shady opportunists who had set him up, trading on his celebrity. However, with the admission of a taped recording of the event which seemed to present a Simpson who was very much in charge of the entire event,the jury saw things quite differently.

"When they went into that room and forced the victims to the far side of the room, pulling out guns and yelling, 'Don't let anybody out of here!' -- six very large people detaining these two victims in the room with the intent to take property through force or violence from them -- that's kidnapping," said David Roger, the Las Vegas Prosecutor who successfully prosecuted Simpson.

Simpson's past loomed large over the entire proceeding, from the selection of the Jury to the strong intimations of police misconduct. His Counsel argued in closing argument, "This case has taken on a life of its own because of Mr. Simpson's involvement. You know that. I know that. Every cooperator, every person who had a gun, every person who had an ulterior motive, every person who signed a book deal, every person who got paid money, the police, the district attorney's office, is only interested in one thing: Mr. Simpson."

They got their man.

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