February 11, 2009 3:35 PM

O.J. Free After Posting Bond

(CBS/AP)  O.J. Simpson again walked free from a Las Vegas jail late Wednesday, hours after a judge blistered him for "arrogance or ignorance" for breaking bail terms in a robbery case.

Simpson posted bond and was released from jail just after 11 p.m. Simpson walked out by himself and quickly got into a white Mercedes and was driven away without commenting to the dozen members of the news media on hand.

Earlier in the day, with his hands cuffed at his waist and a defeated expression on his face, Simpson listened to a lecture from Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass as she doubled his bail to $250,000.

"I don't know, Mr. Simpson, what the heck you were thinking, or maybe that's the problem - you weren't," Glass said.

Simpson's attorney, Yale Galanter, said before Simpson's release that the former football star would post the deed to his home.

Simpson had been ordered to have no contact with co-defendants or witnesses after he was freed on bail in September on charges of orchestrating the armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers at a hotel room.

Wednesday's brief custody hearing was called because Simpson mentioned co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart while leaving a sputtering, foul-mouthed phone message two months ago for his bail bondsman, Miguel Pereira of You Ring We Spring.

"I just want, want C.J. to know that ... I'm tired of this (expletive)," Simpson said, according to a transcript. "Fed up with (expletives) changing what they told me. All right?"

Though there was no indication Stewart received the message, prosecutor Chris Owens suggested it was threatening. The judge merely said she didn't like the tone.

3"I don't know if it's just arrogance. I don't know if it's ignorance," she said. "But you've been locked up at the Clark County Detention Center since Friday because of arrogance or ignorance - or both."

Simpson, wearing a dark jail shirt and pants with orange slippers, grimaced as Glass announced she was doubling his bail. He spoke only when asked if he understood the terms.

"Yes, your honor," he said evenly.

Simpson, 60, was picked up Friday in Florida by Pereira and taken back to Nevada for violating terms of his release.

Galanter accused Pereira of providing Simpson's bail for the publicity.

"You wanted some notoriety for your company," Galanter said, noting that Pereira had been handing out pens embossed with the name of his company and the words, "O.J.'s way out."

Pereria called Simpson's lawyer "a shark." He also said he gave prosecutors audio recordings of conversations he had with Simpson last Friday while escorting him.

The recordings contain "self admissions to things that were committed," Pereira told The Associated Press late Wednesday. He said he could not provide details "because there's an investigation pending."

A spokesman for Clark County District Attorney David Roger declined to comment.

Galanter denied that Simpson made self-incriminating statements, and said defense lawyers knew Pereira was recording Simpson.

Photos: Celebrity Mug Shots
"I think the tapes will speak for themselves," Galanter said.

Galanter stipulated during the hearing that Simpson made the call, though he insisted to reporters that Simpson wasn't trying to contact the co-defendant. In court, the lawyer didn't contest the issue.

"I think you need to pick and choose your battles carefully," Galanter said. "I needed to ensure my client would go home."

Glass told Simpson to post his bond, go back to Florida and return April 7 for his trial in an episode strange even by Las Vegas standards.

Simpson was accused of leading a group of men to a hotel room where memorabilia dealers were peddling collectibles associated with Simpson, including the suit he wore the day he was acquitted in the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman. He said he wanted to retrieve family heirlooms and photographs, including one of him with former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.

The memorabilia dealers claimed guns were pulled. The man who arranged the meeting made an audio tape of the incident, and one of the dealers contacted a syndicated TV show before calling police. It was not the first brush with law enforcement for most of the men in the room.

Simpson, Stewart and Charles Ehrlich pleaded not guilty Nov. 28 to kidnapping, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, coercion and conspiracy charges. An armed robbery conviction carries mandatory prison time. A kidnapping conviction could bring a life sentence with the possibility of parole.

Three other former co-defendants have pleaded guilty to lesser charges and testified against Simpson.

Galanter said he was ordering his client to talk to no one but him and co-counsel Gabriel Grasso.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Add a Comment See all 39 Comments
by bakimba January 17, 2008 5:50 PM EST
Some of you people need to get a life and get off of OJ''s JOCK. He did not kill anybody! Also they should not have stole his stuff loosers!
Reply to this comment
by Krazcarl January 17, 2008 1:44 PM EST
You know my life does not rotate on weather OJ goes to prison. I don''t know if he did it I wasn''t there ,my GUESS is he had a hand in it but there is the drug issue never completly answered. Folks free yourselves from the bondage of hate, To be honest he''s allready in prison just a better bed he''s a broken old man.
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by jetlizhan January 17, 2008 11:54 AM EST
i''m so sick and tired of this b.astard getting out of jail/prison. he has ''no money'' but yet these high bails are always paid. i absolutely despise him and it''s hard to even look at him. the face of a MURDERER. please, please if there''s any justice in this world - he will be locked up this time forever. amen.
Reply to this comment
by nikkicatt1 January 17, 2008 10:57 AM EST
Hey, Babykiller - If you are so far above the masses with your reality gig - how come you even bothered to comment?? I bet it took you a long time to come up with your pithy narrative. Don''t bother going back to sleep - GET A LIFE!!!
o.j. committed a crime. Is that not reality? He violated his probation. Is that not reality? As far as taking it personally - I do. Anytime our legal system is violated by someone rich and/or famous, I take it personally and so should you.
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by keithle1 January 17, 2008 9:06 AM EST
Black men keep lawyers & the courts busy 24-7. Not to mention police & prisons/jails.
Reply to this comment
by edward1975-2009 January 17, 2008 8:21 AM EST
How many cracks at the apple does this idiot get? What a joke.
Reply to this comment
by devilfly1 January 17, 2008 7:40 AM EST
Hey O.J.

Now, you are free on bond. Yeah, what are you going to do next? Autographing?, Celebrating?,and Searching for the killer or killers that butchered your gorgeous wife and her friend?

When will you do that? This week? Dunno, depends on your plans

By the way, you have a lot of time to consider about your life till the Judgement Day. Have the Lord mercy on you! Duh!
Reply to this comment
by arthurcl1 January 17, 2008 6:23 AM EST
OJ CAUGHT IS GOING TO DO TIME IN THE SLAMMER THIS TIME! HE IS GOING TO BE PUNISHED!
Reply to this comment
by ddaymichael January 17, 2008 5:49 AM EST
GET OVER IT!!
Posted by RealTalk5950

HOW? The two people he butchered are still dead!
Reply to this comment
by feelfree1 January 17, 2008 5:16 AM EST

Re: "...don''t know if it''s ignorance. But you''ve been locked...because of arrogance or ignorance - or both."

Judge,

This man may well have gotten away with murder- literally!

If this IS the case, what else would we expect?
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