Plan in motion for Simpson release as soon as Monday

LAS VEGAS — O.J. Simpson could be released on parole as soon as Monday in Las Vegas under a plan being finalized by Nevada officials, a prison spokeswoman said Wednesday.

The process culminating in freedom for the former football player, actor and TV pitchman is in motion, but must be approved and documents must be signed, state Department of Corrections spokeswoman Brooke Keast said.

Meanwhile, the 70-year-old Simpson remains at Lovelock Correctional Center in northern Nevada awaiting transfer to High Desert State Prison outside Las Vegas, where he would be freed, Keast said.

Simpson’s release is expected after he spent nine years behind bars for his 2008 armed robbery and kidnapping convictions following a confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room. He was sentenced to up to 33 years behind bars.

Simpson won parole in July from a state parole board that set Sunday, Oct. 1, as the date he becomes eligible for parole. Once released, he will be supervised by the state Division of Parole and Probation.

His release could come on the first business day after Oct. 1 because state probation officials don’t handle releases on weekends, said Keast, who said she intends to provide video to the public of the release.

“We’ve been trying to keep things as normal as possible,” she said.

High Desert State Prison is located in Indian Springs, about 45 miles northwest of Las Vegas. It is the main processing center for inmates from southern Nevada.