O. J. Simpson has no plans to return home to his native Florida as he’d having too much fun golfing in Las Vegas, according to his lawyer.
The 70-year-old former football hero, acquitted murder defendant and armed robbery inmate, told state parole officials that he would be relocating to the sunshine state on his release from Nevada state prison in October.
But it appears Simpson has changed his mind, and has not filed any relocation paperwork with his parole officials, attorney Malcolm LaVergne said.
‘Mr. Simpson has no immediate plans to return to Florida,’ LaVergne told The Associated Press. ‘He’s very much enjoying his time here in Vegas. It’s January, he gets to play golf every day.’
O. J. Simpson has no plans to return home to his native Florida as he’d having too much fun golfing in Las Vegas (pictured), according to his lawyer
O. J. Simpson (pictured at his parole hearing in July, 2017) told state parole officials that he would be relocating to the sunshine state on his release from Nevada state prison in October
A Nevada state parole and probation officer handling Simpson’s case did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment, and Florida prisons spokeswoman Ashley Cook said her agency has not received documents from Simpson seeking interstate custody.
Simpson has been spotted in public in and around Las Vegas several times during the more than three months he has been living in a friend’s five-bedroom home in a gated and guard-patrolled community several miles from the Las Vegas Strip.
He drew a crowd of selfie-seekers January 7 at a Las Vegas bar and pizza shop during an NFL playoff game featuring one of his former teams, the Buffalo Bills.
An outing in November to a steakhouse and a lounge at the Cosmopolitan resort is in dispute, after officials ordered Simpson off the Las Vegas Strip property and prohibited him from returning.
OJ Simpson was snapped golfing with friends shortly after his release in October
OJ Simpson played several rounds then drank multiple Arnold Palmer drinks inside at the bar while waiting for his food
Having fun? OJ Simpson has kept busy since his release. In October he posed alongside the two women – Instagram models Laura Saucedo (right) and Brendoll (left) – when he ran into them at a commercial shoot
LaVergne denies claims that Simpson was intoxicated or disruptive, and alleges in a December 29 letter to hotel officials that the incident was a malicious and racially prejudiced effort to embarrass Simpson and jeopardize his parole status.
The Cosmopolitan has not responded, company spokeswoman Samantha Grimes said Thursday.
Simpson has earned almost eight months of good time credit since his release from prison, bumping up his expected release from parole to January 18, 2022, from the original September 29, 2022.
He was released to parole October 1 after nine years in prison for leading five men, including two with guns, in a September 2007 confrontation with two sports collectibles dealers at a Las Vegas casino hotel.
Simpson insisted he only wanted to retrieve personal mementoes and items stolen from him following his acquittal in Los Angeles in the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
Simpson was found liable for the killings in 1997 and ordered by a California civil court jury to pay $33.5 million to victims’ families.
The felon took photos with fans as he enjoyed drinks out on the town at the upscale Vegas bar later that same month
Since his release from prison on October 1, OJ has also been spotted chatting up women and ordering drinks at the upscale Grape Street Wine Bar & Cellar
David Cook, a lawyer continuing to pursue payment for Goldman’s father, Fred Goldman, said this week that with interest accruing daily, the total amount owed his client now is nearly $71 million.
Cook is asking a California judge January 30 to let Goldman claim any money Simpson makes from celebrity appearances or the sale of autographs and memorabilia.
Simpson’s attorney in that case, Ronald Slates, declined comment on Wednesday.
LaVergne denied Simpson has income beyond what he termed a modest NFL pension. He said Simpson has no intention of paying the Goldman judgment.
‘He’s publicly said he’s never willingly going to pay them a dime,’ the lawyer said. ‘He doesn’t have any income to pay. This is all about publicity.’
LaVergne added: ‘Everything going on about Mr. Simpson now is about publicity.’