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O.J. Simpson Found Guilty of Armed Robbery
Saturday October 4, 2008

O.J. Simpson during his trial on Oct. 3, 2008.
Steve Marcus-Pool / Getty Images

O.J. Simpson, faces life in prison after he was convicted of robbing two sports memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas, the Associated Press reported.

A jury found Simpson guilty of armed robbery, kidnapping and 10 other counts, late Friday night, 13 years to the day he was acquitted of killing his ex wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman.

Simpson released a heavy sigh as the charges were read and was immediately taken into custody the AP reported.

He faces 15 to life for the kidnapping charge.

The National Football Hall of Fame star and five others were accused of robbing Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley at the Palace Station Hotel and Casino. The group seized sports memorabilia worth thousands of dollars including autographed game balls and plaques.

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Simpson, a former Buffalo Bills football player, who did not testify during three week trial, said in interviews after his arrest he had only been recovering personal items stolen from his trophy room, and denied there were guns during the robbery.

After the verdicts were read, Judge Jackie Glass denied a request for Simpson to be released on bail.

According to the AP, Simpson showed little emotion as officers handcuffed him and walked him out of the courthouse, while his sister, Carmelita Durio sobbed behind him. As spectators left the courtroom, Durio collapsed.

Simpson's lawyer, Yale Galanter said they would appeal the verdict and suggested that his client was penalized for his notoriety.

"Definitely someone like O.J. Simpson, everyone has a fixed opinion of him and it's troubling," Galenter told the AP. "I wasn't surprised. He's extremely upset, extremely emotional, but it was something that was expected."

Simpson told the AP on Thursday, that he was "afraid that I won't get to go to my kids' college graduations after I managed to get them through college."

Simpson will be sentenced on December 5.

Prosecutors said Simpson's argument about his ownership of the memorabilia was irrelevant.

"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," prosecutor David Roger said.

Clarence Stewart, 54, one of the five men who accompanied Simpson, was also convicted. He faces the same sentences.

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