Nevada Parole Board Granting O.J. Simpson Parole
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We're following breaking news here in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting from Washington. We've just received word from the Nevada parole board granting OJ Simpson parole. Ted Rowlands is joining us on the phone. He's been following what's been going on. Ted, tell our viewers what exactly is happening with the former NFL star.</s>TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, Wolf, he has been granted parole and one might think that means he's getting out of prison, but that is not the case. He's been granted parole on some of the charges, the current charge on the robbery, that he was serving. However, starting October second, he then begins serving charges -- other charges -- sentence for other charges. He will likely spend at least four more years in prison. This will reduce the amount of time he spends in prison but this was expected and he will not be getting out of prison because of it. However, still on the table is a motion for a new trial that a judge in Las Vegas is still mulling over so we're awaiting her decision. Over the next week or two we expect it. That is where OJ Simpson's lawyers believe he really does have a very good chance of getting out of prison if she grants him a new trial. He's already been in prison for five years for that robbery attempt and kidnapping in a Las Vegas hotel room. You remember he went in to get his what he calls</s>BLITZER: He remains in prison. And I'm reading the statement released by the Nevada parole board which is headlined, the Nevada Parole Board order granting parole to OJ Simpson. And among the reasons they site for this decision, as you know, Ted, to grant him parole, are his positive institutional conduct, participation in programs, lack of prior conviction history and that he has consecutive sentences yet to serve. And I just want to be precise with what the board said in their statement. The parole board -- the parole of OJ Simpson becomes effective when he reaches his minimum parole eligibility date which is October 2, 2013. That's in a few months. After that date, as you correctly point out, he will begin serving the 12-month minimum term on four concurrent 12 to 72 month sentences imposed for using a weapon during the robbery and kidnapping, use of a deadly weapon enhancement. He will be seen by the board again in 12 months for parole consideration on these four sentences. Consecutive to these four enhancement sentences are two consecutive 18 to 72 month terms for assault with a deadly weapon. Bottom line from all of that, those complicated words, Ted, is that even though he will be eligible for parole on October second of this year, he's still going to stay in jail, as you point out, for at least another four years unless there's another change?</s>ROWLANDS: Unless there's another change. And I just got off the phone with his attorney. And this was expected that he would be granted parole. And you mentioned the model prisoner aspect. Two weeks ago, OJ Simpson met with his parole board via a video conference and he talked to the board at length saying that he basically is this prisoner that counsels other prisoners and his record is clean. So, they expected that he would be granted parole October second</s>BLITZER: He's not getting out yet but I'm sure he and his attorneys are encouraged by this decision, by the Nevada Parole Board. He's 66 years old. Obviously, all of us remember the trial back in the 1990s. He was found not guilty of killing two people, including his wife and another individual in Los Angeles. But how is his health right now? And you were in the courtroom. You saw him up close.</s>ROWLANDS: Well, he has aged. He's put on some weight like anybody, you know? He's aging. There have been rumors that he is suffering from horrible health but according to his attorneys, he is just fine. I mean, He's aged maybe more than the normal person, because, frankly, spending time in a Nevada prison is hard on anybody. But they say that his health is fine and he's very much looking forward to getting out. He has regular conversations with his family, with his children. And he is very positive that this hearing in the spring in Los Vegas really did prove his case for a new trial. And one last things. A new trial is one thing but getting out is another. If he is granted a new trial, he will likely be released because he's already served more time than prosecutors originally wanted him to on this armed robbery case. In fact, at one point, here was a deal for just two years which he turned down. But now, he's been in prison for five years. If he gets a new trial, he'll be out.</s>BLITZER: And you say what -- we should know within the next few weeks if he'll get a new trial?</s>ROWLANDS: We should. The Judge Linda Bell has had this now for several -- a couple months, and we anticipate that she will release her findings one way or another within the next two weeks. So, we got a little OJ Simpson here today but the big news, at least from OJ's standpoint, will be coming in a couple of weeks.</s>BLITZER: Nevada parole board order granting parole to OJ Simpson. That's the headline even though, as you point out, he's not out yet unless he gets a new trial. We should know that soon. And one more question, Ted. If he does get a new trial, there's no doubt he will be out on bail as that new trial gets going, right?</s>ROWLANDS: One would think so because he was granted bail throughout the first trial and as was established by this decision today by the parole board, he has been a model prisoner. So, one would assume if he's granted a new trial, he would be out on bail at first and then likely released from charges.</s>BLITZER: All right, we'll stay on top of the breaking news. OJ Simpson possibly getting paroled, at least on some counts as early as October, and then we'll see what happens with this new trial if, in fact, he is out of jail any time soon. We'll stay on top of this story. Ted Rowlands staying on top of it for us. Thanks very much. We'll take a quick break. There's lots of other news happening right here in the CNN NEWSROOM, including the latest developments on Anthony Weiner. There are new developments on that case in New York. Stay with us.