Former football star faces multiple felony charges in memorabilia incident
LAS VEGAS - O.J. Simpson was arrested Sunday and faces multiple felony charges in an alleged armed robbery of collectors involving the former football great’s sports memorabilia, authorities said.
Prosecutors were planning to charge Simpson with two counts of robbery with use of a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and coercion, said Clark County District Attorney David Roger.
A conviction on the most serious charge, robbery with use of a deadly weapon, could bring a sentence of three to 35 years for each count, he said. A judge ordered Simpson held without bail, police said.
“He is facing a lot of time,” Roger said.
Simpson was being transferred to a detention center for booking, Dillon said. Dillon said he did not know whether Simpson would be able to post bail and be released Sunday.
“He was very cooperative, there were no issues,” Dillon said.
At least one other person has been arrested and police said Sunday that they were searching for four others in connection with the alleged armed robbery that occurred in a room inside the Palace Station casino-hotel on Thursday.
Police Lt. Clint Nichols said Simpson invoked his right to an attorney immediately after being arrested.
Simpson, 60, has said he and other people with him 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.”
The 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 in 1994. Simpson was acquitted of murder charges, but a jury later held him liable for the killings in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Police said two firearms and other evidence were seized at a private residence early Sunday.
Walter Alexander, 46, of Arizona, 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.
He was released without bail on Saturday night, Dillon said.
Besides the two firearms, police said they seized other evidence during early morning searches of two residences, Lt. Clint Nichols said.
“It was evidence of a crime that was committed,” Nichols said. “And I believe we recovered some clothing that the individual was wearing in the commission of the robbery.”
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 involved in the alleged robbery, has said he wants the case dropped and that he’s “on O.J.’s side.”
Nichols said police had a responsibility to investigate how the collectibles were taken, regardless of who they belong to.
“We don’t believe that anybody was roughed up, but there were firearms involved in the commission of the robbery,” 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.” On Sunday, the book was the hottest seller in the country, hitting No. 1 on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com.
--------------------------------------------
I know this story is all over the news by now, and most of you are probably plenty aware of this, but still, the title begs the question-- Is O.J. being treated unjustly or more harshly because the police have an axe to grind against him? Bear in mind that O.J. was found NOT GUILTY of murdering his wife in a court of Law. Therefore, he is legally innocent of the crime, like it or not. Therefore, he deserves the same equal and unbiased treatment as every other American citizen, does he not?
Besides, how can someone "rob" someone of what clearly belongs to them in the first place?
Gee, I read somewhere that he had auctioned all this memorabilia off to defray his legal costs at an unfortunate time in his life, when such costs had stripped him of assets.
Of course, some persons who have a tremendous sense of entitlement might think that even if they had sold the memorabilia at auction, the buyers were not entitled to 'own' them; the buyers should realize that such precious memorabilia cannot be alienated from the 'rightful' owner... in this case O.J.
He should get the money from the auction, and be allowed to keep the objects, too. That is simply the result of the seller's great entitlement.
Just like if a woman 'belongs' to such a person of great entitlement, she should not have the right to choose another mate. And if a man is attracted to a woman who 'belongs' to a person of such great entitlement, he has no right to become her mate. And such persons deserve the severest penalty. Both of them. With no recourse to law.
Posts: 6553 | Location: British Columbia, Canada | Registered: 06-11-02
Like I said in DiscussionPool, If O.J. gets away with this I will go in without a lawyer and plead guilty for my revoked license and possesion of marijuana case in October. I'm willing to bet 90 days in jail againsts him. They have till October 3, 2007.
If O.J. beats this, I will plead guilty at my araignment...He has till October 3....
Posts: 2705 | Location: USA | Registered: 06-07-02
Yes, Simpson was found not to be guilty of murdering Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in his criminal trial. That has nothing to do with his arrest for these charges. That he is being held without bail has to do with his flight from the police in that murder charge, and is a legitimate decision by the Nevada judge.
As far as things being rightfully his, my understanding is that those items went to help satisfy a judgment against him or were sold to help defray legal fees charged by his team of defense lawyers, who were worth every penny they got paid. Once sold, they were no longer his. I also read that other items he took in the event that got him arrested were another player's football shoes and a baseball signed by a major leaguer. Surely those weren't his; if your reasoning is to be followed, they belong to those players.
One of the men claiming that Simpson robbed them actually testified for Simpson in his civil trial. That does not seem to make Simpson look good in this, or look innocent.
The police are continuing to investigate; the items, including memorabilia from other players, were recovered from the men accused of the robbery, after, of course, Simpson denied knowing about it all. There is also a tape which might not help Simpson. One of those others will roll on Simpson, and I feel it is likely he will do time. I feel he will be sentenced to whatever time the judge feels appropriate for the crimes he has been charged with in this action, taking in account that Simpson has not been entirely truthful in this, judging from what the police have already recovered.
Simpson was a professional athlete, and should know that sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. Pete Rose knows that, and I bet Pete is betting that OJ joins him in his club. They could pick up Mike Tyson on the way to meetings. (It wouldn't be wise to let Tyson drive. OJ has shown himself to be a much safer driver.)
By the way, Valor, it also has been determined in a court of law that OJ was more likely than not to have caused the deaths of those two people. But that decision, like his criminal acquittal, has no bearing on future crimes.
I've known a few guys who did time. Not one complained about being found guilty. They knew that if you play the game, sometimes, you may lose.
Posts: 17506 | Location: Lincoln Place, Granite City, IL, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
Bet thing I like about this is the Tape Simpson made ...For what purpose? And in 1 UK paper it says that some of the items were from the other matter ghosted away by OJs Pals So many of us are of the Opinion He's been in Brit speak " a Total Divvy" (and Will not get out of this One)
Besides, how can someone "rob" someone of what clearly belongs to them in the first place?
Regardless if he owned the memorabilia or not it is illegal to enter a hotel room with “muscle” that is waving guns around and take it.
Simpson did not make the recording that has to do with this incident; according to reports Thomas Riccio did.
I have to think O.J. picked the wrong place to take back what he believed to be his in such a manner. Doesn’t he know that every square inch of a casino and it public spaces are videotaped ? (even the hallways )
Posts: 3713 | Location: Long Island, New York USA | Registered: 06-03-02
To further explain about items of value that "are Simpson's", remember that if they have value, there is a court order that they be sold to help pay off a judgment against him. So if they really are Simpson's property, he'll only have them briefly and on paper.
Bedstor, it really doesn't matter what the laws are in the UK. This happened in Las Vegas. I have no doubt that the only people that are allowed to carry weapons in a Vegas casino are those registered with the city, county, and state. Las Vegas has always protected the interests of their casinos.
Posts: 17506 | Location: Lincoln Place, Granite City, IL, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
I'm sure everyone knows I'm not a big proponent of conspiracy theories but I can't help being suspicious that TMZ television is launching this week. I just can't get over the coincidence of this one and that they broke the story and had all the tapes. What was the "Trial of the Century"? If I was launching a television program breaking into the lives of celebrities with footage, this would be the gold mine I'd be hoping for.
Or I'm just crazy to think OJ might have been paid off to go nutso with a mic handy.
Posts: 3062 | Location: USA | Registered: 06-04-02
aw come on aminator, theres no conspiracy here. To be honest with you I hope he fries for this. TMZ had nothing to do with it. Maybe they had sources to aquire the tapes, but thats all.
I want to say something really bad. and I will but I'll censor it, O.J. Simpson is the true defininiton of a word I can't say, but I want to say........
Posts: 2705 | Location: USA | Registered: 06-07-02
Originally posted by babthrower: Gee, I read somewhere that he had auctioned all this memorabilia off to defray his legal costs at an unfortunate time in his life, when such costs had stripped him of assets.
Can you provide a source please? Without your accustomed sarcasm, if you're able?
Originally posted by DorianGreyed: As far as things being rightfully his, my understanding is that those items went to help satisfy a judgment against him or were sold to help defray legal fees charged by his team of defense lawyers, who were worth every penny they got paid. Once sold, they were no longer his. I also read that other items he took in the event that got him arrested were another player's football shoes and a baseball signed by a major leaguer. Surely those weren't his; if your reasoning is to be followed, they belong to those players.
Which is it? Sold by O.J. to pay his legal fees, or confiscated under the civil judgment? Because, surely O.J. has more to his name to attach under a civil claim than "sports memorabilia" (i.e. bank accounts, property, autos)? Either way, it would be helpful to have a factual answer from a credible source, in order to better understand the case.
He's got a defence at common law in America or in Britain. It's that he genuinely believed that the goods were his and he was entitled to get them. Be fair, that gets him off part Just leaves the small matter of the means he employed
Valor D quotes me: "Gee, I read somewhere that he had auctioned all this memorabilia off to defray his legal costs at an unfortunate time in his life, when such costs had stripped him of assets."
Then, Valor pleads, pathetically:
quote:
Can you provide a source please? Without your accustomed sarcasm, if you're able?
He's now charged, inter alia, with kidnapping. That's one for the lawyers; it's not what most people think of as 'kidnapping'; but he's got a big problem defending himself against that charge. Holding someone against their will without lawful authority or excuse (or however it is worded there) is a little difficult to deny in the circumstances
That kidnapping charge is important, I think. That says to me that OJ is going to do time. As I recall, kidnapping is a federal crime, so he could be facing multiple trials if he doesn't cop a plea. OJ in an orange jump suit? It does somehow seem right and proper.
Posts: 17506 | Location: Lincoln Place, Granite City, IL, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
Originally posted by babthrower: Valor D quotes me: "Gee, I read somewhere that he had auctioned all this memorabilia off to defray his legal costs at an unfortunate time in his life, when such costs had stripped him of assets."
Then, Valor pleads, pathetically:
quote:
Can you provide a source please? Without your accustomed sarcasm, if you're able?
According to your article, O.J. claims that the items of his that he retrieved were stolen. It would be nice to see a source which knows something about this very important point as a fact, either way.
By the way, babs, have you ever considered going to anger management? You seem to harbor a lot of hostility. You know what they say- sarcasm is anger's little brother!
The problem is that if, in fact, they were his, why weren't they liquidated when he was under a court order to to so to satisfy a judgment against him? His alibi presents him with another set of problems. Further, Ron Goldman's father has asked a California court to contact the Nevada court and ask that the items be turned over to Goldman re that same judgment. So Simpson may never see these items, regardless of who legally owns them right now.
Posts: 17506 | Location: Lincoln Place, Granite City, IL, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
)
Just leaves the small matter of the means he employed 
