OJ Granted Parole

OJ Simpson Granted Parole

He's scheduled to be released from prison Oct. 1

By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff

OJ Simpson appears via video for his parole hearing at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Lovelock, Nev., on Thursday, July 20, 2017.   (Lovelock Correctional Center via AP)

(NEWSER) – As expected by both legal analysts and the former football star himself, OJ Simpson was granted parole Thursday following nine years in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping, NBC News reports. The 4-0 ruling comes from the Nevada Board of Parole. The 70-year-old Simpson's original 33-year sentence will end in his release as early as Oct. 1, according to the Washington Post.

Simpson was sent to prison after he and other men took sports memorabilia from a hotel room in Las Vegas. At Thursday's hearing, he called the robbery a "big mistake" and claimed he had "basically spent a conflict-free life." His daughter, Arnelle Simpson, spoke on his behalf, and OJ told the board he wants to "spend as much time with my children" as possible.