Co-defendants in O.J. Simpson case granted probation

Four men who testified against former football star O.J. Simpson in exchange for plea deals were sentenced to probation Tuesday by a Las Vegas judge.

While each of the men had pleaded guilty to lesser charges for their involvement in the armed robbery and kidnapping case, Judge Jackie Glass accepted pre-sentencing recommendations that none receive prison time.

Michael McClinton, Walter Alexander, Charles Cashmore and Charles Ehrlich received various terms of probation ranging from three to eight years.

Simpson was sentenced to up to 33 years in prison on Friday for kidnapping and robbing two sports-memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel room. He will be eligible for parole in nine years.

He was sent to a Nevada state prison Monday to begin serving his sentence.

Simpson, 61, had been convicted in early October on a dozen charges related to Sept. 13, 2007, when he and five other men stormed a room at a hotel-casino and seized sports mementoes and personal items from the dealers.

His co-defendant and former golfing buddy, Clarence (C.J.) Stewart, has been sentenced to 7½ years to 27 years.