O.J. Simpson granted parole after serving 9 years in prison for a 2008 conviction

Former football player and actor O.J. Simpson was granted freedom on Thursday by the Nevada Board of Parole.

"The Juice," who is serving time for his part in a 2007 kidnapping and robbery in Las Vegas, faced the parole board during his hearing at 1 p.m. EST.

Simpson, 70, and several others entered a hotel room and took hundreds of pieces of sports memorabilia from two men. He was convicted in 2008 on 12 counts, including burglary with the use of a deadly weapon, kidnapping and assault. Simpson was sentenced to a minimum of nine years and maximum of 33.

Simpson could be released from prison as early as Oct. 1.