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Simpson Facing 'Very Hard Years' in Prison

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 4, 2008 2:08 PM CDT

(Newser) – Don't expect a miracle legal rescue to set OJ Simpson free anytime soon, writes Richard Abowitz in the Los Angeles Times. Simpson will be imprisoned until his December sentencing—the judge didn't have to do that but chose to anyway—then sent into the Nevada prison system. His appeal probably won't reach the courtroom for at least 2 years. "These are likely to be very hard years for Simpson," says Abowitz. "Nevada's prison system is not meant for celebrities."

If he wins a new trial on appeal, OJ could go free until it begins, but the same judge who locked him up this time would make that call. It's possible Simpson will be sent to a maximum security system, where he would likely be isolated for his own protection. As for his December sentencing, Simpson could get anywhere from a few years to life in prison. One legal expert thought it most likely that he'll spend most of his remaining years locked up.

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O.J. Simpson arrives in court before being found guilty on all 12 charges at the Clark County Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Friday, Oct. 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Daniel Gluskoter, Pool)

O.J. Simpson is taken into custody after being found guilty on all 12 charges. (AP Photo)

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Even Dostoyevsky would be confounded by the truly bizarre timing of this conviction on robbery and kidnapping charges on the very anniversary of Simpson's acquittal 13 years ago on double murder charges. - Richard Abowitz, Los Angeles Times

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