O.J. Simpson...sentenced to a minimum of 15 years by Vegas Judge.

"What we have is satisfaction that this monster is where he belongs behind bars."

That was the response of Ron Goldman's father, after O. J. Simpson was convicted on charges of armed robbery and led away to prison earlier today.

"There's never really any closure. Ron is still gone," Mr. Goldman sadly elaborated.

When the former Heisman Trophy winner stood at the sentencing hearing, it was quite an emotional moment for the man who many still allege murdered his former wife - Nicole Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman - in spite of an acquittal in a Los Angeles court room years ago.



As he stood face-to-face with Judge Jackie Glass, the jurist quickly delivered the perimeters of his punishment after he made a tear-eyed plea for mercy.

"I didn't want to steal anything from anyone. ... I'm sorry, sorry."

The cries fell on deaf ears.

In fact, the Judge denied a request for Mr. Simpson to remain free on bail, pending the outcome of an appeal expected to be lodged with the higher court in the near future.

As if anticipating a backlash from Simpson's lawyers, friends, and supporters Judge Glass made a point of noting several times that her sentence in the Las Vegas case had nothing to do with the Simpson legal proceedings in 1994 in which he got off scott-free.

"I'm not here to try and cause any retribution or any payback for anything else," Glass stated matter-of-fact for the record.

Co-defendant - Clarence "C. J." Stewart - was also was sentenced to at least 15 years.