LAS VEGAS – A former O.J. Simpson co-defendant has taken a plea deal that frees him after more than two years in prison and avoids a retrial in their 2007 Las Vegas armed robbery and kidnapping case.

Clarence "C.J." Stewart pleaded an equivalent Tuesday of no contest in Las Vegas to felony robbery and conspiracy charges. His lawyers says he was released Tuesday evening.

The Nevada judge who handled the Simpson trial agreed to sentence the 56-year-old Stewart to nine months of house arrest and an unspecified term of probation. Sentencing is Jan. 11.

The Nevada Supreme Court granted Stewart a new trial in October. It ruled he didn't get a fair trial due to Simpson's notoriety.