The Police Report

The story, according to the police report, goes like this.

Beardsley, Fromong and Riccio met at Palace Station and the three men retrieved the collection from Fromong’s vehicle so they could set up displays in Riccio’s hotel room.

Riccio received a phone call from men he claimed were the buyers. He left the other two men in the room while he met with Simpson and his companions in the lobby.

Simpson entered with several men, two of whom had guns pulled. The group berated the collectors and took the items. Simpson grabbed Fromong’s cell phone, but agreed to leave it and any items that weren’t his at the hotel’s front desk for him.

Simpson told police that his group left the room with pillow cases full of sports memorabilia, worth at least $80,000. Not everything was related to his career, but he said “didn’t take the time to go through it,” before leaving the room.

Simpson and the other men face 11 charges, 10 of which are felonies:
• Conspiracy to commit a kidnapping
• Coercion with a deadly weapon
• Burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon
• Conspiracy to commit robbery
• Two counts of first-degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon
• Two counts of robbery with use of a deadly weapon
• Assault with a deadly weapon
• Conspiracy to commit a crime

If convicted, Simpson faces up to life in prison.

The Consequences

Nobody would have guessed though that Las Vegas may be the city that brings O.J. to justice. Throngs of media have crowded courthouses and detention centers since Sunday.

Like I said, this isn’t just any robbery case.

Although he’s facing a heap of it, there are some who think Simpson might be looking at much more of an uphill climb than expected. Despite being charged with the same crimes as the other men, he was held for three days without bail. There are some who think the prosecution may not be being reasonable.

Las Vegas attorney Chris Rasmussen has secured bail for hundreds of defendants charged with more serious crimes. “If this was a regular case, this would be gross misdemeanor with probation, maybe five years’ supervision. We have guys that shoot up 7-11s and they get out the next day.”

Former Clark County prosecutor, Amy Chelini, agreed, “Even the most serious charges, except for capital murder, get bail.”

New York defense lawyer Jeff Lichtman, who once represented John Gotti Jr., suggested that he believes the 1995 murders may have some influence over the heavy-handed prosecution.

“Despise O.J. all you want, but this Las Vegas court and these prosecutors should not be permitted to use this present case in order to achieve the justice for Nicole’s murder,” he said.

What can turn into a key issue of the case is the ownership of the property. “You can’t rob something that is yours,” said Simpson attorney Galenter.

However, according to Doug Godfrey, a professor at the Chicago-Kent College of Law. “A prosecutor only has to show intent. And the intent is, ‘Were you acting in concert with someone with a gun to take property from someone?’ If you were, you’re guilty of armed robbery.”

Nevada law allows use of reasonable force to retrieve one’s property.

The Spectacle

Downtown Las Vegas is awash colorful characters and the latest Simpson scandal seems to have encouraged them to come out en masse.

The eclectic crowd included a man dressed in a chicken suit, some people dressed as cavemen (promoting a show at the Golden Nugget), others with signs supporting their websites and the “O.J. Queen,” a woman handing out free bottles of orange juice.

“Free juice! Free The Juice!” she offered to spectators and media crew alike.

One enterprising gentleman flew to Las Vegas from Florida with white T-shirts bearing the slogan "Get Arrested in Las Vegas, Stay in Vegas" and a photo illustration of Simpson behind bars.

Look around even more closely and you’ll see a couple of familiar faces from Simpson’s life. Marcia Clark, who unsuccessfully prosecuted Simpson during his 1994 murder trial, was reporting for “Entertainment Tonight,” and Christine Prody, his current girlfriend, bears striking resemblance to his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson.

The Aftermath

The Juice was somber as could be during his arraignment Wednesday morning. After posting his bail, Simpson did not speak to reporters or bystanders as he made his way to a grey sedan with his lawyer.

Although a few people still support him, most people are eager to see him serve time.

“Justice for Nichole, justice for Ron," shouted a spectator as Simpson made his way to the car.

Some say this may be one of the biggest stories to come of Las Vegas. It could be. It’s not over yet. It just may be starting. Simpson is to be back in court October 22 to face charges.

Simpson lawyers have claimed to fight the charges so trial may happen next year. Whatever happens in the coming months could be mean the difference between freedom and imprisonment for these men and just may be the beginning of the end of the saga of Orenthal James Simpson.

The handling of the OJ Simpson case has inspired many aspiring attorneys to to law school. If law interests you but law school is turning you off, you can even get online college degrees in pre-law or paralegal studies. An education grant can help persuade you if money is the issue.