OJ Simpson subject to 15-year mandatory minimum (though with parole)

Writing here at SI.com, law professor Michael McCann provides an effective review of “the key questions following the guilty verdict of O.J. Simpson on all 12 counts of armed robbery and kidnapping.”  Here is the Q&A on sentencing:

What will happen at Simpson’s sentencing on December 5?

Even if she opts to impose the most lenient possible sentence under discretion, Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass will sentence Simpson to at least 15 years in prison.  His conviction alone of first-degree kidnapping with a deadly weapon carries a minimum sentence of 15 years, with the possibility of parole after five years, and a maximum sentence of life of prison with the chance of parole. Judge Glass could run the sentences for each of the 12 charges concurrently or consecutively, the latter of which would be disastrous for Simpson, as he would then serve time for each sentence, one-after-the-other.

Working in Simpson’s favor is that judges normally refrain from imposing the maximum possible sentence for first-time offenders and, despite the many controversies surrounding him over the last two decades, Simpson has not previously been convicted of a crime (though he did plead no contest in 1989 to a spousal abuse charge, meaning he neither contested the charge nor admitted guilt).  Then again, at age 61, there is a strong probability that, absent a successful appeal and regardless of Judge Glass’ leniency, Simpson will spend the remainder of his life in prison.

Given that OJ is not really a classic “first-time offender,” I do not think his legal team should be (or will be) expecting Judge Glass to impose the minimum possible sentence.  That said, it will be very interesting to watch how everyone involved handles the acquitted conduct issue this high-profile case presents.  It will also be interesting for years to come to watch how the Nevada parole authorities deal with this prominent felon as he ages in prison.