Breaking News Thread

[Flynbyu]

 

~Brian

[Flynbyu]

O.J. Simpson Sentenced to Up to 33 Years in Prison for Armed Robbery and Kidnapping
Friday , December 05, 2008


O.J. Simpson was sentenced Friday to up to 33 years in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping in a failed attempt to recover sports memorabilia from two collectibles dealers.

Simpson will be eligible for parole after nine years.

His co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart was sentenced to at least 15 years behind bars.

"We are pleased," said Simpson attorney Yale Galanter after the hearing.

Before Judge Jackie Glass handed down her decision, the 61-year-old fallen football star — clad in a blue prison jumpsuit, shackles and handcuffs — apologized to her and the Las Vegas court after learning he won't be able to be freed on bail if he appeals.

"I stand before you today sorry," an emotional Simpson told Glass, fighting back tears. "I am apologetic to the people of Nevada. ... When I came here, I came here for a wedding. I didn't come to reclaim property."

He said he thought he was taking advantage of an opportunity to retrieve mementos that were rightfully his, including sports memorabilia and his first wife's wedding ring, when he burst into a Las Vegas hotel room on Sept. 13, 2007.

"In no way did I mean to hurt anybody, to steal anything from anyone," Simpson said. "I didn't want anybody else's stuff. I just wanted my own. I realize that I was stupid. I am sorry. I didn't know that I was doing anything illegal. I thought I was retrieving property from friends. I'm sorry, I'm sorry for all of it."

But the judge emphasized that it was a violent confrontation in which at least one gun was drawn, and she said someone could have been killed. She said the case was unusual because the planning, the confrontation itself and the aftermath were all recorded on audio or videotape.

"The evidence in this case was overwhelming," she said. "This was actually a very violent event."

The judge said several times that her sentence in the Las Vegas case had nothing to do with Simpson's 1994 acquittal in the slaying of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in Los Angeles.

"I'm not here to try and cause any retribution or any payback for anything else," Glass said.

The former Hall of Famer, who walked away a free man in 1995 after his celebrated murder trial, faced mandatory prison time of between six years and life behind bars.

Before Glass read his sentence, she ruled that Simpson cannot be freed on bail pending a possible appeal.

Simpson and his co-defendant and former golfing buddy, 54-year-old Stewart, were convicted Oct. 3 of 12 criminal charges, including kidnapping and armed robbery. Neither Simpson nor Stewart testified at the trial.

Stewart also spoke at the sentencing hearing and apologized to the state of Nevada. He said he bore no ill will toward anyone involved. He asked the court for leniency and said he prays for forgiveness.

Jurors who heard 13 days of testimony said after the verdict that they were convinced of Simpson's guilt because of audio recordings middleman Thomas Riccio secretly made of the 2007 Palace Station casino hotel confrontation with sports memorabilia brokers Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong.

"Don't let nobody out of this room!" Simpson commands on the recordings, and instructs other men to scoop up items he insists had been stolen from him.

Simpson's lawyers called his actions "stupid" and admitted he broke the law, but said they didn't rise to the level of criminality that would warrant a long prison sentence. They asked Glass to show mercy.

"As stupid and as ill-conceived as it was, it wasn't something that was from this evil mind they teach us about," Galanter said before sentencing. "Not bright, not smart, not well thought out, but certainly not from an evil mind."

Glass responded during her statements that she believed "it was much more than stupidity."

Fred Goldman and his daughter, Kim Goldman, father and sister of murder victim Ron Goldman, the friend of Simpson's slain ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, were among the 15 members of the public to gain entry to the courtroom.

Simpson's two sisters, Shirley Baker and Carmelita Durio, sat in the front row of the courtroom, along with his adult daughter.

Most of the 63 seats were taken by media, lawyers and family members of the defendants.

After sentencing was over, the Goldmans left the courtroom and Kim threw her arms around her father and wept.

Simpson's sisters declined to comment, but Baker said on her way out: "It's not over."

Fred Goldman told reporters that "this is a bittersweet moment" but spoke of the satisfaction of seeing Simpson — whom he called an "SOB" and a "monster" — in shackles.

"He'll be where he belongs, with others of his kind," Goldman said.


What goes around, comes around.

~Brian

[Mad Dog]

And you need to learn that those in glass offices shouldn't throw stones.  You think I'm ignorant, I think you're full of shit.  Pretty even to me, I'd just as soon call it a day and move onto some other meaningless discussions.  

[socalrappy700]

And you need to learn that those in glass offices shouldn't throw stones.  You think I'm ignorant, I think you're full of shit.  Pretty even to me, I'd just as soon call it a day and move onto some other meaningless discussions.  

Never called you ignorant.  Just said there are quite a few facts that you are unaware of or chose to ignore.  The rest of us have been able to discuss this topic without any problems.  You were the one to simply respond by saying we have our head up our asses.  Keep the personal attacks off this forum. 

[Krandall]

MINNEAPOLIS —  A Minnesota man has pleaded guilty to answering an online advertisement for baby-sitting work and then using the client's child to make a pornographic video.

Aaron Jay Lemon of Little Canada admitted Wednesday to producing the video in a plea deal with federal prosecutors.

The 23-year-old also admitted to coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct.

The plea agreement says Lemon filmed the child in St. Paul after seeking the baby-sitting job through Craigslist.

St. Paul police spokesman Peter Panos tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the victim was a 2-year-old girl.

The U.S. Attorney's office says the case was part of a project that encourages agencies to investigate the sexual exploitation of children over the Internet.

The office says Lemon potentially faces a maximum of 30 years in prison.


Hey Randy, don't you live in Little Canada?

~Brian

That's fucked up.. Straight up... yea, where I live

[Colorado700R]

Easy guys, both of you are extremely intelligent.  But, I doubt anyone here knows ALL the facts and ramifications of the UAW and the US Automakers.

And if they do they should be running for office, and not wasting their time on an ATV forum

[Flynbyu]

I work in the auto industry, and I like wasting time on an ATV forum.



~Brian

[Peelz]

Easy guys, both of you are extremely intelligent.  But, I doubt anyone here knows ALL the facts and ramifications of the UAW and the US Automakers.

And if they do they should be running for office, and not wasting their time on an ATV forum

 

+ like a million!

[Flynbyu]

WASHINGTON – President George W. Bush publicly acknowledged for the first time Friday that the U.S. economy is in a recession and worried aloud that Detroit's Big Three automakers may not all survive their mounting troubles.

Four days after the long-suspected existence of a recession was made official, Bush used the word himself.

"Our economy is in a recession," Bush said flatly, speaking to reporters on the South Lawn only hours after the release of a government report showing the biggest month of job losses in 34 years. "This is in large part because of severe problems in our housing, credit and financial markets, which have resulted in significant job losses."

While repeatedly listing the serious problems in the economy, the White House has refused to embrace the actual term until Monday, when a panel for the National Bureau of Economic Research said the recession began last December and is ongoing.

With automakers, particularly General Motors, in fear of bankruptcy, they are seeking from Washington a huge cash infusion of up to $34 billion, beyond an existing $25 billion loan program. Lawmakers are considering the idea, but there is uncertainty about the level of support on Capitol Hill for that plan.

Bush displayed skepticism about the wisdom of new aid to companies that still need to make "hard choices on all aspects of their business." So while urging lawmakers to act next week to help the battered industry, Bush urged a Congress controlled by opposition Democrats to follow his approach.

The president supports adjusting the $25 billion loan program, so that the money would be available more quickly and for more urgent needs than its original long-term purpose of helping to retool factories to produce more energy-efficient cars.

"I am concerned about the viability of the automobile companies," he told reporters on the South Lawn. "I am concerned about those who work for the automobile companies and their families. And likewise, I am concerned about taxpayer money being provided to these companies that may not survive."

With only 46 days left in office before President-elect Barack Obama takes over, Bush declared: "It's important to make sure that taxpayers' money be paid back if any is given to the companies."

The president spoke not long after the release of a government report showing the biggest month of job losses in 34 years. Reacting to the jobs report for November, which also showed a huge jump in the unemployment rate to 6.7 percent, Bush expressed deep concern for Americans who have lost jobs, but also said there are some encouraging signs about the credit markets. "There is still more work to do," he said. "My administration is committed to ensuring that our economy succeeds."

At 12 months, the current recession is already the longest since a severe 16-month slump in 1981-82. Many economists say this downturn will ultimately set a new record for the post-World War II period.

During Bush's eight years in office, the United States has fallen into two recessions. The first one started in March 2001 and ended in November of that year.



~Brian

[Peelz]

I don't understand the need to be tight lipped about stuff...

On another note...I saw an interview where he called Iraq a "do-over he can't do-over"     WTF Still waiting for someone to own that little faux pas! This is peoples lives, not playing h-o-r-s-e on the playground.

[Peelz]

I have no copy paste abilities here, I heard it on the radio. NPR. Probably will see the $15b bailout for the big three soon.

It was a great story, told by a nuetral(which you rarely hear. I am softening my blame on the Union a little. I know they(and CEO's) played their part in the mess, but I had never thought about total labor cost including all retirees insurance. + Wages are around $29 per hour  That is how they got to that $70 per hour average.

The transplant companies 'japanese" companies, pay wages around $24-$25 per hour, with total cost being near $45. This is alot of the difference. Nissan and others don't really have retirees yet, haven't been around as long, making lower labor costs. So much more blame is pointed at the Management from me.  etc.  Need to Spend $ on making a few great cars instead of a $hitload of mediocre cars.

I do still think they make a tad bit too much for off the street unskilled labor. I am not talking about skilled labor....I can turn a wrench.   :grin_nod:

[who else but rk]

what we have all been waiting for....
http://www.leftlanenews.com/mich-senator-carl-levin-very-close-to-17-billion-deal.html

[Peelz]

what we have all been waiting for....
http://www.leftlanenews.com/mich-senator-carl-levin-very-close-to-17-billion-deal.html

thanks for the link RK. i only heard the story on the Radio.

[Flynbyu]

It's a temporary loan to get them through till January......Just right about the time Obama takes office so he has to deal with it.

Pass the buck please.

~Brian

[Peelz]

It's a temporary loan to get them through till January......Just right about the time Obama takes office so he has to deal with it.

Pass the buck please.

~Brian

Doesn't have to be.

Use the $ wisely.