Going to prison. Because i know he wouldnt go for me. Reporter their stories, their regrets, and their wishes for the soon to be free o. J. Simpson. This special edition of nightline will be right back. This is a special edition of nightline. O. J. Simpson parole granted. Good evening. One of the most controversial figures in American Life is once again heading toward freedom. O. J. Simpson was granted parole today after spending nearly nine years in prison for a botched robbery, an attempt he says to reclaim Sports Memorabilia that was rightfully his. Now with his release coming as soon as october abcs Debora Roberts speaks to some of the other men involved in that crime. Reporter o. J. Simpson about to become a free man. Capturing the nations attention once again. Tonight, o. J. Simpson will be a free man. Reporter granted parole after serving nearly nine years behind bars for kidnapping and robbery. An emotional sigh from the former football great. Thank you. Reporter making a lengthy plea. What were you thinking . I thought i was glad to get my stuff back. But it wasnt worth it. Im sorry. Reporter the 70yearold inmate, seen for the first time in four years. He seemed to relitigate the tenyearold crime with a flash of anger. So you believe that the property was yours . Its been ruled legally by the state of california that it was my property, and theyd given it to me. Reporter but at other times remorseful. I havent made any excuses in the nine years that ive been here, and im not trying to make an excuse now. They were there because of me. Reporter he was convicted in 2008. Guilty count 2 reporter and has been serving a 9 to 33year sentence here at lovelock correctional facility in nevada. Ive done my time. You know, ive done it as well and as respectfully as i think anybody can. No one really knows how much we have been through. Reporter his oldest da eses daughter, arnell, speaking on behalf of the family. Hes like my best friend and my rock. To have that Human Element of someone who really seemed to be speaking from the heart definitely helped. But i think much of this for o. J. Simpson was for the court of public opinion. Reporter then the first tears from simpson as one of his victims, bruce fromong, made a plea on his behalf. This is a good man. He made a mistake. And if he called me tomorrow and said bruce, im getting out, will you pick me up, juice, ill be here tomorrow. I mean that. Reporter simpson, tears of gratitude. I think the parole commissioners had probably made their decision before he walked in the door. So he would have had to have done something really bad to change those opinions. Reporter simpson never far from the limelight. His life mired in controversy. Forever remembered for the trial of the century. You must acquit. Not guilty of the crime of murder. Reporter accused, then acquitted of murdering exwife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend ron goldman. Simpsons pending release brought fresh pain to the family of ron goldman, who spoke out on good morning america. Whats troubling to me is not only him but the whole system gives Second Chances to violent felons or for that matter anyone in jail. Ron doesnt get a second chance. Reporter simpson was ordered to pay the goldman and brown families 33. 5 million after being found liable in the civil trial. The goldmans say they received less than 1 of that. Simpsons always denied any involvement in those deaths. O. J. Simpson will likely be released in october and may move back to florida to be near his chernld. If granted corrections Officials Say he will be assigned to a probation officer and will be supervised in accordance with the conditions of his parole. Simpson still earns an nfl pension, estimated at 25,000 a month. But its protected under federal law. The goldmans cannot get access to it. It is simply not an asset that they can seize. Reporter looking back on what sent him to prison, simpson says it was a series of unfortunate events. The perfect storm. September 13th, 2007. O. J. Simpson is in vegas for the wedding of pal tom scotto. He was more excited for me to get married than i was. Reporter and hes gotten a tip from sports collector tom riccio that some of his lost and treasured memorabilia will also be in las vegas, items his former agent allegedly took in lieu of payment. Poolside at the palms resort simpson strategizes a play to score back his stuff. And he says to me i need someone that i can trust to go up there or go and see what it is. Reporter Charlie Ehrlich, a Miami Strip Club promoter, agrees to pose as a buyer. So i said o. J. , listen, for you im going to do this. Reporter ehrlich leaves, and simpsons former golfing buddy Walter Alexander joins in too. Riccio left, and then all of a sudden the conversation got serious. Reporter what was the plan . What did o. J. Say he wanted to do . When he approached me about it, he was like, hey, man, will you watch my back . So i said yes. And then after i said yes he leaned in a little closer and he said, by the way, can you get some heat . Meaning a gun . Meaning a gun. And when he said that, i hesitated. Reporter while he hesitates, someone else speaks up. Michael mcclinton, a friend from the los angeles nightclub scene. And at the time he ran a Security Company and had a concealed carry permit. He asked me, would you go with me to be my security . Sure, ill go with you. Little did i know that it was going to turn into what it did. After he did that i look at o. J. And i say, so o. J. , what if they call the police . And he looked at me and he used a fourletter word that starts with f and ends with k the police. What are they going to do, take me to jail for taking my own stuff . Reporter the stage is set. 6 30 p. M. Simpsons recruited three people. Riccio the goxen heads north to the Palace Station hotel to link with the memorabilia dealers. Theyre captured on the Hotel Security cameras bringing in the haul. We took the memorabilia down to the room, set it all up for this supposed buyer that was coming in. Reporter on the way to the palace simpson recruits two more buddies including c. J. Stewart. He gets in the car and he says what . Man, ive got 15 minutes to get there and you dont even have to get out of the vehicle. Just please dont leave me there. Reporter ehrlich and another pretend buyer head in first. Two seconds later i look down the hallway, i see o. J. , this guy Clarence Stewart who i met an hour and a half ago, these two black guys who look like theyre right out of miami vice. Slicked back here, versace glasses, suits. I go who the [ bleep ] are these guys . Excuse my french. And i said oh, boy, this is a typical o. J. Move, im saying to myself. Reporter for the First Time Since that night mcclinton walks back into the Palace Station hotel. Its undergoing significant renovation. Whos sort of in charge of the plan . Mr. Simpson is in charge. What does he say . He said were going to wait for some guys. Reporter the group now all together. No one knew anybody. It was like going to the gunfight at the o. K. Corral. Reporter no introductions as they head into room 1203. We all barged into the room. The guys in the room were shocked to see mr. Simpson. Ive seen this guy getting ready to go under the mattress. First thing that went through my mind, it was a firearm. Next thing, simpson, you could hear his voice coming in. You think you can steal my [ bleep ] . Dont let nobody out of here. Reporter this is actual audio of simpson from inside that room, secretly recorded by riccio. It would later be Critical Evidence in the courtroom. You [ bleep ]. You think you can steal my [ bleep ]. It was stated i pointed the gun. I never pointed that gun at anybody. I did take my gun out. For one like split second. And when i realized the room was safe, i just put it back in. The minute i pulled the gun out im like, man, this is a robbery. You know, this is going to be on national news. You are going to jail for this. Reporter nine hulking men crammed into a small room. So o. J. Says pack up all this stuff and lets get out of here. Reporter they grab everything in sight and stuff them into pillow cases from the bed. I actually went and snatched the cord of the phone out of the wall, and i took bruces cell phone. Why did you take his cell phone . Because i didnt want him to call the police. So you leave the room. Yes. What are you thinking at that point . That we just did a robbery. Reporter but simpson isnt fazed as they head back to the palms hotel. Unbeknownst to him, the memorabilia dealer Alfred Beardsley finds a phone and calls the cops. 911 emergency. Yeah, we were just robbed at gunpoint by o. J. Simpson. Can you send the police here, please . Where are you . Palace station haute until las vegas. We were just robbed by o. J. Simpson and four other black men at gunpoint. Reporter . I need to know who were looking for. Four black men and o. J. Simpson is not enough. I need to know what theyre wearing. Reporter frustrated by that 911 call the dealers try reporting simpson in the lobby as seen here on the hotel surveillance cameras. But still no one believes them. Later back at the palms simpson and crew continue their prewedding celebrations over dinner at the little buddha restaurant. O. J. Was there laughing. He just thought it was the funniest thing. [ laughter ] reporter he has no idea Michael Mcclinton is secretly recording this conversation. It was a strong arm robbery. They came in with guns. The last thing i want is at 4 00 them [ bleep ] coming in here reporter all that time o. J. Is thinking no big deal, youre not o. J. Is drunk. He just kept saying no guns, just say there wasnt guns. Reporter the next day police find and question simpson. But hes not arrested and goes on to be best man at tom scottos wedding. The wedding day went perfect. O. J. Was in great spirits. Reporter but those high spirits would soon fall. Boom. Right after the wedding they pick him up, they lock him up. Reporter one by one simpson and his accomplices are arrested, making national headlines. O. J. Simpson is under arrest in las vegas. In connection with an alleged armed robbery. Reporter police nab alexander at the airport. Searching his bag for that suit he was wearing in the surveillance tape. When you go to the casino, youre filmed from the moment you go in the door. Did it not occur to you all that theres a camera here, theres cameras here, cameras theres cameras all over this place. That wasnt on my mind, and im sure it wasnt on the other guys mind either. Reporter when we come back, simpsons stiff sentence in nevada. Conspiracy to commit kidnapping, a felony offense. Reporter and advice for o. J. From his accomplices. How they think he should live his life once free. Stay out of trouble. Reporter stay with us. I have spent years taking overthecounter products for my belly pain and constipation. Ive had it up to here its been month after month of fiber. Weeks taking probiotics days and nights of laxatives, only to have my symptoms return. vo if youve had enough, tell your doctor what youve tried and how long youve been at it. Linzess works differently from laxatives. Linzess treats adults with ibs with constipation or chronic constipation. It can help relieve your belly pain, and lets you have more frequent and complete bowel movements that are easier to pass. Do not give linzess to children less than six, and it should not be given to children six to less than 18. It may harm them. Dont take linzess if you have a bowel blockage. 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But hurry, these shooting stars fly by fast. Lease the c300 for 399 a month at your local mercedesbenz dealer. Mercedesbenz. The best or nothing. This special edition of nightline continues. Reporter at his parole hearing today, o. J. Simpson once again recounting the events that brought him here. All i want is my property. I think theres a tape of it. You hear me on at least three or four occasions say i just want my property. Reporter but in the end regretting his choices. I spent nine years making no excuses about anything. I am sorry that things turned out the way they did. Reporter not unlike his words spoken nearly nine years ago after being convicted of kidnapping and robbery in that las vegas heist. I didnt mean to steal anything from anybody, and i didnt know i was doing anything illegal. I thought i was confronting friends. So im sorry. Im sorry for all of it. Reporter at various points in the trial familiar faces. The Goldman Family and former prosecutor marcia clark, who tried a decade earlier to send him to prison, then working for entertainment tonight. It was such a clown car of a case. It was a ridiculous case. And the witnesses were interesting. It was a weird thing to be doing, to cover that case. Reporter simpson and his five accomplices all under arrest and facing stiff charges. Conspiracy to commit a crime, a gross misdemeanor offense. Conspiracy it commit kidnapping, a felony offense. Conspiracy to commit robbery, a felony offense. Mr. Simpson, do you understand the charges against you . Yes, sir. Reporter his buddies begin to roll over, striking plea deals for lesser charges and no jail time. In exchange for testifying against their pal o. J. Simpson. I said [ bleep ] o. J. , im not going to prison for him. Because i know he wouldnt go for me. Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you god . I do. Was it difficult for you to face your buddy in court like that and testify against him . My family in my own life was so much more important than whatever was going to happen with him at that point. Reporter but the star witness was tom riccio, who arranged the meeting between simpson and the dealers. He was granted immunity and secretly recorded that confrontation in room 1203. It was played in court. Youre trying to take my [ bleep ] shirt. Bag this [ bleep ] up. Reporter the only one not to cut a deal, c. J. Stewart. But you could have avoided jail time if you just pleaded. I wanted to fight for what was right. And i rolled the days. And gambled with prison. Somebody got to stand for whats right sometime in life. Everybody was out for themselves. Rise. Reporter but that roll of the dice would prove a bust following a twoweek trial. Guilty. Count 2, conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Guilty, count 3, conspiracy to commit robbery. Reporter 61yearold simpson found guilty on all 12 counts. Count 1, conspiracy to commit a crime, guilty. Reporter c. J. Stewart, also guilty of robbery and kidnapping. When you heard those words and youre standing there in that courtroom i froze up. And i told the officers, take me to jail, i asked for this. I wasnt no victim. So you were beating yourself up at that moment . Im sorry. Thats all right. All right, mr. Simpson, im going to sentence you as follows. Count 1 reporter and then that sentence. For simpson 9 to 33 years in prison. The former number 32 star running back would become prisoner number 1027820. Im not here to sentence mr. Simpson for whats happened in his life previously in the criminal justice system. The judge wanted a verdict to parallel the day of the o. J. Simpson trial. I maintain that 33year sentence echoed the 33. 50 million that was imposed in the civil case. Its kind of a bittersweet moment knowing that that s. O. B. Is going to be in jail for a very long time where he belongs. Do you think o. J. Simpson should be in jail right now . Hes serving time for what happened in california. Not what happened in nevada. Nevada really was a slap on the wrist. The jury convicted you. And now ill sentence you. Reporter stewarts hit with 7 1 2 to 27 years. Thank you. Mr. Stewart, have a seat. Reporter his conviction would latering overturned. Instead of a second trial he would plead no contest to charges of robbery and conspiracy and be released after 27 months. Today stewart says that time behind bars scarred him for life. So you were in solitary confinement for 90 days . 94, i think. Reporter he now runs a Construction Company and has written a book that will be released this fall. Are you bitter over what happened to you . I should be. And i am. But i dont carry it every day. Its going to take me years. I will never forget room 1203 nor will i ever forget what happened here with me and o. J. Simpson at the Palace Station. Reporter Michael Mcclinton has also written a book. What was it like for you to walk into here again today . Even right now talking about it my heart is pounding. Reporter Walter Alexanders life has changed too. Hes now a minister. Its all about gods word in this church. Reporter each of the men involved in that vegas caper say its right for simpson to finally win his freedom. I think its a travesty that hes been in for nine years. I do not believe he committed that crime way back when. This is all about payback. Reporter as for the future, mcclinton offers simpson this advice. Go sit your ass down and spend the rest of your life with your family and stay out of trouble. Reporter for nightline im Deborah Roberts in las vegas. Two of o. J. s cohorts in that robbery, Charlie Ehrlich and Walter Alexander, are writing books about the incident. And well be right back with more nightline. More kinds of crab than ever, new dishes, and all your favorites. 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Welcome to Hometown Heroes week. For us, this week is all about paying tribute to some very special people whove done some truly amazing things. You cant put a price on the things these people have done, but a Million Dollars isnt a bad place to start. So lets play who wants to be a millionaire. [cheers and applause] welcome, everybody. Its Hometown Heroes week onbe i love this week. Todays Hometown Hero received global attention as the whistleblower who exposed the flint, michigan water crisis. Today we are celebrating her efforts by giving her a shot at from flint, michigan, please welcome dr. Mona hannaattisha. [cheers and applause] doctor, how you doing . Awesome. Good to h honored to have you here. Thank you for coming. Honored to be here. Thank you. Happy that you have a shot to do some good and make a Million Dollars today. Okay, again, this was a global water crisis and the tainted water. You were the first one to shine veproblem. Right, so its a disaster, and actually, the people of flint were the heroes in this story, and for 18 months they were complaining about their water and unknown to them, really to the world, that it was contaminated with lead