LAS VEGAS, Sept. 19, 2007
O.J. Due In Court
For Arraignment On 10 Felony Charges; Conviction Could Mean Life In Prison
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Play CBS Video Video O.J. Simpson Arrested
O.J. Simpson was arrested in Las Vegas on charges of alleged armed robbery of sports memorabilia, in a bizarre case that has put the former NFL player behind bars. Jeff Glor reports.
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Video CBS Evening News, 09.16.07 Sunday: O.J. Simpson is arrested, jet crashes in Thailand, wildfires rage in California, Iowa caucuses generate big bucks, banks raise ATM fees, and an unlikely designer shows sex appeal.
- Video O.J. Simpson Arrested
Former NFL star O.J. Simpson was arrested on felony charges in an alleged armed robbery that took place in Las Vegas. Bill Whitaker reports.
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O.J. Simpson is transferred to the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. (AP)
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O.J. Simpson in booking photo provided by Las Vegas Metropolitan P.D. (AP/Las Vegas Metropolitan P.D.)
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Walter Alexander, 46, of Mesa, Ariz., was arrested Saturday night, Sept. 15, 2007 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. (AP/Las Vegas Metro. Police Dept.)
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A police photo of Michael McClinton, 49, of Las Vegas, whom the police describe as "a key player" in the alleged theft. (LVPD)
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Photo Essay Murder In Brentwood A look back at the Simpson-Goldman murders.
The former football star is due in court in Las Vegas for arraignment Wednesday, a day after prosecutors filed formal charges against Simpson and three other men in connection with the alleged Sept. 13th armed robbery of sports memorabilia collectors in a casino hotel room.
Simpson, who is being held without bail, was arrested Sunday after a collector reported a group of armed men charged into his hotel room and took several items Simpson claimed belonged to him.
CBS News correspondent Jennifer Miller reports Simpson's jailers describe him as cooperative and say that in addition to lawyers, he has been visited by the chaplain, who gave him reading glasses, a Bible, and a copy of the Christian evangelical book "The Purpose-Driven Life."
Simpson, however, might have other choices besides reading for how he spends his time this week. Simpson's attorney is seeking his release from jail and since Nevada law entitles most criminal defendants to be released on bail, it is possible that the judge may allow Simpson to post bail and go home.
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Walter Alexander, who is charged along with Simpson in the alleged robbery
Simpson, 60, was booked on five felony counts, including suspicion of assault and robbery with a deadly weapon. District Attorney David Roger filed those charges and added five other felonies, including kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, according to court documents."He did believe that he was going to retrieve his own property."
Walter Alexander, who is charged along with Simpson in the alleged robbery
CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen reports that under Nevada law, the crime of kidnapping is defined merely as confining someone against their will.
"Most people think kidnapping is when you take someone from Point A to Point B," Cohen says. "But in many states, including Nevada, kidnapping is more broadly defined to include confining someone against their will for a time, which is what the district attorney now alleging occurred during that so-called burglary."
The crimes Simpson and the other men are charged with will carry hefty sentences and therefore, will "put pressure on defendants who might be leaning toward turning on each other in exchange for a plea deal," Cohen says.
According to the charges, Simpson and the others went to the hotel room under the pretext of brokering a deal with Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong, two longtime collectors of Simpson memorabilia.Photos: O.J. Busted In Vegas
Once in the room, Simpson prevented one of the collectors from calling 911 on his cell phone "by ripping it out of Fromong's hand" while one or more accomplices pointed or displayed a handgun.
The complaint does not specify which of the men involved was carrying the weapon.
The kidnapping charge accuses the men of detaining each of the men "against his will, and without his consent, for the purpose of committing a robbery."
Fromong, a crucial witness in the case, is in critical condition in a Los Angeles hospital, after suffering a heart attack Monday, according to a spokeswoman at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Beardsley has said he does not want to pursue the case.
Simpson's lawyer, Yale Galanter, has said he plans to ask for Simpson's release on his own recognizance.
"If it was anyone other than O.J. Simpson, he would have been released by now," Galanter said.
Simpson insists that he was not armed and that he went to the hotel simply to retrieve property that had been stolen from him.
"You can't rob something that is yours," Galanter said. "O.J. said, 'You've got stolen property. Either you return it or I call the police.'"
Witnesses and authorities have said that they don't believe Simpson had a gun but that some of the men who accompanied him during the confrontation were armed.
Two others named in the complaint, Walter Alexander and Clarence Stewart, have been arrested and released.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- I HATE o.j. simpson.
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- Since his non-conviction in 94, I''ve hated this man, but legally speaking, how can he be treated like this with no prior felony convictions? I''m actually starting to feel sorry for him considering what that Goldman phuque (f-word) has put him through. If my property had been stolen, even long ago, & I just now found its'' location....Hell yeah, I''d want it back! I guess it will all boil down to the facts in the case, though. The cops aren''t releasing much of the pertinent info just yet. I guess we should all wait to see what actually occurred before we voice our opinions. Either way, I think a "no bail" is a bit out of line.
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- I hope OJ is released on personal recognizance.
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- I think if OJ goes to the slammer for this it is a prison term long over due. I feel sorry for his children and how they must feel over his actions. It is pretty clear he does care much for them or he would not have murdered their mother.
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- Even if I were innocent of committing a crime like this I sure would not have a big''ole GRIN on my face. Don''t see anything funny about it!
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- Hey OJ
When they have karaoke night at the Nevada State prison, I have the perfect song for you to perform.
Oops! I did it again.
Just don''t wear anything from the Brittany Spears jelly belly collection, OK?
I also hear there''s a new book on the horizon.
"If I stole it" by OJ Simpson - Reply to this comment
- When OJ get off on a technicality.. He should follow Michael Jacksons'' lead- Leave the country and never be heard of again...
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- Well they got him now, he should have wised up by now, and realize you can''t get away with murdering "white folks", sooner or later the "grim-reaper" come a calling.
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- here''s a math problem for everyone.
At 17 cents per hour to make license plates, how long will it take OJ to pay off the Goldmans? - Reply to this comment
- OJ - YOU DA MAN!!!
DUMMY!
And by the way, Brittany, Lindsey and Paris say thanks for getting them off the front page of every newspaper in America. - Reply to this comment
- Send that bast*ard to Guantanamo..
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- Ok, here''s the deal.
The reason that OJ was in this particular room was because he was given credible information that the killer of Nicole and Ron Goldman was in this room. The fact that there were lowlifes selling his allegdedly "stolen" memorabilia is secondary to the real reason.
I guess the Vegas motto is true; when it comes to OJ it''s true what they say that "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" In this case, for life. - Reply to this comment
- Now, if we could just throw MURDER in their, things would be fair. It couldn''t happen to a nicer guy. String him up!!!!!
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- their is no prison that will hold oranthal james! he''s co(innocent)ugh!!
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- THE DEVIL MADE HIM DO IT TOO!!!!
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- so, if OJ is convicted and given full sentences for all charges, and he spends the next 210 years (30 years x 7 charges?) in jail... then how is goldman going to collect his 30+ million dollars? Interesting dilemma eh? I''d say that Goldman doesn''t want OJ in jail... he wants OJ OUT of jail able to make $$. Although, this book is selling like crazy for some sick reason. WHy would ANYONE buy it? Personally, i''m all for OJ being sucked dry of all $$ for the murders he so obviously committed, but this latest thing... holy moly, why was it tape recorded from start to finish? Seems fishy to me.
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- LAUGHING STOCK OF AMERICA!!!!!!!
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- THE FACE OF EVIL! Now O.J. where did your mamma go wrong.
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- ahhh! he has micheal jackson''s attorney.hmm stands to reason!
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- I have never believed OJ was innocent of the two murders. This time I believe he really was set up. It is easy to see between the lines. If the memorobilia turns out to be Goldman''s doesn''t it seem likely he set him up, knowing he is hot headed and would want this stuff back? Why was there a recorder on to record conversation as if they or someone knew OJ was going to turn up? This whole thing smells to me, and it has the hallmarks of a conspiracy. OJ shouldn''t be prosecuted for this. This time, and I can''t believe I am saying this, he should go free.
I believe it was Goldman setting him up, and he is the one who should be on trial for this. Intentional entrapment. I hope OJ has a good lawyer for this. Shame on Vegas for falling for it. - Reply to this comment
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