Former gridiron great O.J. Simpson was charged Tuesday with 10 felony counts and one gross misdemeanor by the Clark County district attorney’s office in connection with the now-infamous armed robbery of several memorabilia dealers at a hotel room last Thursday.
Simpson was charged with two counts each of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and first degree kidnapping with the use of a deadly weapon. The DA charged Simpson and three other men with trying to kidnap memorabilia dealers Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong in a Las Vegas hotel room, and of using physical force, “or the immediate threat of such force,” against them.
At one point, while “one or more of his confederates possessing, displaying and/or pointing one or more handguns,” Simpson ripped Fromong’s phone out of his hand, according to the complaint.
A fourth suspect in the case, Michael McClinton, 49, of Las Vegas, a man police describe as “a key player” in the alleged theft was arrested Tuesday evening and is also in custody.
The litany of charges and Simpson’s no-bail status shocked criminal defense lawyers in Las Vegas, who said that the treatment was connected to Simpson’s celebrity. Simpson could face life in prison on just the kidnapping charge.
“This is way over the top,” attorney Chris Rasmussen told ABCNEWS.com, explaining that he has represented hundreds of defendants charged with more serious crimes who make bail. “If this was a regular case, this would be gross misdemeanor with probation, maybe five years’ supervision. We have guys who shoot up 7-11s and they get out the next day.”
Amy Chelini, a former Clark County prosecutor, was also surprised by the decision to deny bail. “I can’t recall the last time that someone was denied bail,” she explained. “Even the most serious charges, except for capital murder, get bail. I have a lot of clients who are from out of state and get bail. After all, a lot of people who come to this town get in trouble,” she said.
But Simpson spent his second day in a 7-foot by 14-foot cell at the Clark County Detention Center. One of 36 other inmates in a unit, Simpson is given three to four hours of free time while his fellow inmates stay locked in their cells. So far, prison officials say Simpson has been cooperative, asked for a pair of reading glasses and was given a Bible and a book, “The Purpose-Driven Life,” to read.
New questions are being raised about Simpson’s treatment when compared with that of his associates. While Simpson sits in jail, two of his associates were brought in for questioning and then freed on bail. Walter Alexander, who police say brandished a weapon during the alleged robbery, cut a deal with prosecutors and is back in Los Angeles. And Clarence Alexander, whose Vegas home was searched by police who recovered the memorabilia taken in the incident Thursday night, was arrested but freed on $78,000 bail.
“We’re just treating him as we would as if he was anybody else. We’re being professional. We’re not acting as fans. We’re not going down that route,” a jail staffer told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
(Via Simpson, Facing 10 Felony Counts, ...)
