O.J. Simpson Ordered Held Without Bail for Robbery

[Logan13]

Why can't they just leave him alone. Another reason to riot in the streets.......again.
O.J. Simpson Ordered Held Without Bail for Robbery

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Police arrested O.J. Simpson on Sunday, saying he was part of an armed group who burst into a Las Vegas hotel room and snatched memorabilia that documented his own sports career, long ago eclipsed by scandal.
The arrest starts a new legal odyssey for the fallen football star who more than a decade ago was acquitted of the slayings of his ex-wife and a friend, and opens the possibility he could spend decades behind bars.

Simpson was taken away from The Palms casino-hotel by plainclothes officers a day after the arrest of a golfing buddy who police say accompanied him with a gun in the Thursday night holdup. Handcuffed and wearing a golf shirt and jeans, Simpson was placed in an SUV. He was later ordered by a judge to be held without bail, police said.

"He was very cooperative, there were no issues," Capt. James Dillon said.

Simpson was at the Clark County Detention Center on Sunday night for booking on two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit a crime and burglary with a firearm, police said. The district attorney, meanwhile, said he expected Simpson to ultimately be charged with seven felonies and one gross misdemeanor.

If convicted of the booking charges, Simpson would face up to 30 years in state prison on each robbery count alone.

"He is facing a lot of time," said Clark County District Attorney David Roger.

Simpson, 60, has said he and other people were retrieving items that belonged to him. Simpson has said there were no guns involved and that he went to the room at the casino only to get stolen mementos that included his Hall of Fame certificate and a picture of the running back with J. Edgar Hoover.

"He is facing a lot of time," said Clark County District Attorney David Roger.

Simpson, 60, has said he and other people were retrieving items that belonged to him. Simpson has said there were no guns involved and that he went to the room at the casino only to get stolen mementos that included his Hall of Fame certificate and a picture of the running back with J. Edgar Hoover.

Simpson told The Associated Press on Saturday that he did not call the police to help reclaim the items because he has found the police unresponsive to him ever since his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, were killed in 1994.

"The police, since my trouble, have not worked out for me," he said, noting that whenever he has called the police "It just becomes a story about O.J."

Police did not allege that Simpson personally carried a weapon in the incident.

"We don't have any information to lead us to believe he was armed even based on those charges," said police Lt. Clint Nichols.

Police said they seized two firearms involved in the robbery along with sports memorabilia, mostly signed by Simpson. They also said they recovered collectible baseballs and Joe Montana cleats at private residences early Sunday on three search warrants. But "whether or not the property belonged to Mr. Simpson is a matter of debate," Nichols said.

Walter Alexander, 46, of Mesa, Ariz., was arrested Saturday night on two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary with a deadly weapon. Alexander, who was described as one of Simpson's golfing buddies, was released without bail Saturday night.

"Walter was one of the two subjects who had a gun," Capt. James Dillon said.

Robert Dennis Rentzer, a Los Angeles lawyer representing Alexander, said he was able to arrange his client's release from custody, but wasn't familiar with the allegations.

Police also are seeking four men: Clarence Stewart, 53, of Las Vegas, Michael McClinton, 49, of Las Vegas, Tom Scotto, whose age and hometown were not known, and another man who was not identified.

Simpson, a Heisman Trophy winner, ex-NFL star and actor, lives near Miami and has been a tabloid staple since his ex-wife and Goldman were killed. Simpson was acquitted of murder charges, but a jury later held him liable for the killings in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, welcomed the possibility that Simpson could go to prison.

"He's believed for years, decades, that he's entitled to do anything he wants, and the legal system and society has basically agreed with him," Goldman said. "This time, hopefully, he'll get what he deserves. He'll get jail time."

Police said Sunday that Simpson asked to speak with his lawyer before proceeding with an interview, although he spoke several times with investigators before his arrest. The attorney, Yale Galanter, said that he was attempting to get Simpson released.

"Obviously we intend to fight these charges vigorously. We believe it is an extremely defensible case based on conflicting witness statements, flip-flopping by witnesses and witnesses making deals with the government to flip," he said.

Simpson said auction house owner Tom Riccio called him several weeks ago to say some collectors were selling some of his items. Riccio set up a meeting with collectors under the guise that he had a private collector interested in buying Simpson's items.

Simpson said he was accompanied by several men he met at a wedding cocktail party, and they took the collectibles.

Alfred Beardsley, one of the sports memorabilia collectors who was in the hotel room, has said he wants the case dropped and that he's "on O.J.'s side."

"It's like a bad dream," Beardsley said. "I'm sad that O.J. is in custody."

Beardsley said he blames the whole thing on Riccio. "If they don't charge Riccio I will be very upset. That guy lied to O.J. and got him all pumped up," he said.

Simpson's arrest came just days after the Goldman family published a book that Simpson had written under the title, "If I Did It" about how he would have committed the killings of his ex-wife and Goldman had he actually done it.

After a deal for Simpson to publish it fell through, a federal bankruptcy judge awarded the book's rights to the Goldman family, who retitled it "If I Did It: The Confessions of the Killer." During the weekend, the book was the hottest seller in the country, hitting No. 1 on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com.

[bpm1]

i hope they nail that POS for all they can, i hate that muther effer

[ftony]

Im wondering if his "friends" have some interesting stories of past actions to share....

[Primalinstinct]

OJ is a no-good two-time murdering prik.

Seems he is attempting to expand his reseme.

[prealdeal]

what a tard did he acutely think no one would say any thing with him there

[Titan 3]

I can't understand why people can't just grow old with some sort of grace. OJ. Michael Jackson, Tom Cruise...... So many famous peeps just make a mess of themselves in their twilight.

[scriptfactory]

O.J. Simpson Ordered Held Without Bail for Robbery

Walter Alexander, 46, of Mesa, Ariz., was arrested Saturday night on two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary with a deadly weapon. Alexander, who was described as one of Simpson's golfing buddies, was released without bail Saturday night.

"Walter was one of the two subjects who had a gun," Capt. James Dillon said.

Robert Dennis Rentzer, a Los Angeles lawyer representing Alexander, said he was able to arrange his client's release from custody, but wasn't familiar with the allegations.

Simpson said auction house owner Tom Riccio called him several weeks ago to say some collectors were selling some of his items. Riccio set up a meeting with collectors under the guise that he had a private collector interested in buying Simpson's items.

Simpson said he was accompanied by several men he met at a wedding cocktail party, and they took the collectibles.

Alfred Beardsley, one of the sports memorabilia collectors who was in the hotel room, has said he wants the case dropped and that he's "on O.J.'s side."

"It's like a bad dream," Beardsley said. "I'm sad that O.J. is in custody."

Am I the only one who sees that something isn't right about this story?

[Logan13]

Am I the only one who sees that something isn't right about this story?

Something tells me that you probably said much of the same during his murder trial.............

[scriptfactory]

Something tells me that you probably said much of the same during his murder trial.............

Actually, since he was found innocent from a jury of his peers, I don't care... Still, I still have my suspicions that he is guilty of that crime.

This is a different situation when even one of the collectors involved is saying he is innocent...

[Logan13]

Actually, since he was found innocent from a jury of his peers, I don't care... Still, I still have my suspicions that he is guilty of that crime.

This is a different situation when even one of the collectors involved is saying he is innocent...

It is just as plausible that one of the collectors might be invloved in it as well.......

[scriptfactory]

It is just as plausible that one of the collectors might be invloved in it as well.......

Then why was one of the "armed robbers" let out of jail without bail. This story doesn't make sense. Police don't let armed robbers out of jail, especially without bail...

[Logan13]

Then why was one of the "armed robbers" let out of jail without bail. This story doesn't make sense. Police don't let armed robbers out of jail, especially without bail...

Why are the others still locked up? Regardless, the truth will come out at some point. Do you think that they are picking on poor OJ, just like they picked on Vick? Or perhaps, just like they picked on the Duke Lacrosse players.... It's sad that when these things happens, the idea of guilt or innocence is usually split down racial lines.

[scriptfactory]

Supposedly there is a tape:

http://it.tmz.com/2007/09/17/o-j-con...aught-on-tape/

[ftony]

I wonder where his defense team is???They should be chiming in soon....I cant wait to see this..lol

[Johny-too-small]

I hope OJ is getting OWNED by his cellmate.

[bpm1]

I hope OJ is getting OWNED by his cellmate.

yea baby!, do i make u horny baby?!(in austin powers voice)

[Coop77]

Ironic that he could potentially get life in prison for armed robbery.

[scriptfactory]

Accomplice Calls Heist a Setup, Accuser Hospitalized
Alexander believes that Simpson was set up by Thomas Riccio, the memorabilia dealer who first tipped off Simpson that some of his collectibles were being sold, and set up a meeting with the two dealers in the hotel room. Riccio recorded the hotel-room confrontation and sold the recording to TMZ.com, according to The New York Times, but never informed police of his secret taping.

"It sounds like a setup to me," Alexander told ABC's "Good Morning America" Tuesday.

Riccio has a long rap sheet, including four separate felony convictions, including arson, prison escape and stolen property charges, according to thesmokinggun.com. Riccio, who has spent a combined total of eight years in prison, was first convicted of a felony in 1984, a federal charge of conspiracy to receive stolen goods, according to court records. Several months later, he escaped from a federal minimum-security facility in Danbury, Conn.

Yeah...