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O.J. Simpson Coverage Blog

Updates on the celebrity’s criminal proceedings in Las Vegas

Timeline and Charges of case

By Associated Press · November 15th, 2007 ·

Here’s a look at a timeline for the major events in the O.J. Simpson armed robbery and kidnapping case; and the charges and penalties faced by Simpson and two co-defendants, Clarence “C.J.” Stewart and Charles “Charlie” Ehrlich:

TIMELINE

Aug. 21 — Memorabilia dealer Thomas Riccio tells FBI agents that Simpson wants to televise a confrontation with a collector he believes is peddling stolen Simpson memorabilia.

Sept. 12 — Simpson checks into The Palms hotel-casino for a friend’s wedding, parties late at a casino nightclub.

Sept. 13 — Simpson contacts former golf buddies, Clarence Stewart, of North Las Vegas, and Walter Alexander, of Mesa, Ariz., who also is in Las Vegas for the wedding. They discuss a plan to take sports memorabilia from dealers Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong.

About 7:30 p.m., police say, the three men and three others meet Riccio, rush into a hotel room at the Palace Station casino and seize items at gunpoint from Beardsley and Fromong. Beardsley and Fromong report incident as armed robbery. Simpson is questioned at Palms hotel.

Sept. 14 Police name Simpson as target of investigation. Simpson again is questioned by police. Simpson tells The Associated Press no guns were involved and some of the items belonged to him.

Sept. 15 Police arrest Alexander at McCarran International Airport, question him and charge him with assault and armed robbery. He is released without bail. Simpson attends wedding of friend, Tom Scotto, at the Little White Wedding Chapel.

Sept. 16 Simpson is arrested at The Palms, questioned by police and booked into the Clark County jail on felony armed robbery, assault and conspiracy charges. A judge orders him held without bail. Police announce they are seeking several other men.

Sept. 17 Stewart surrenders to police, turns over items believed to be taken from Beardsley and Fromong, and is released on $78,000 bail. Fromong suffers heart attack, is hospitalized at Los Angeles hospital.

Sept. 18 Michael McClinton surrenders to police. District attorney formally charges Simpson, McClinton, Stewart and Alexander with nine felonies including kidnapping, which carries a possible life sentence. Simpson charged with additional felony count of coercion with a deadly weapon.

Sept. 19 — Judge sets $125,000 bail for Simpson, who posts bond, is released from jail and returns home to Florida. Beardsley is arrested in Las Vegas on California parole violation. Charles Cashmore, of Las Vegas, surrenders.

Sept. 20 Beardsley appears in Las Vegas court, waives extradition to California, is ordered held without bail.

Sept. 21 Cashmore is arraigned and Charles Ehrlich, of Miami, turns himself in at court on felony charges. Judge sets bail for Ehrlich at $32,000 and $28,000 for Cashmore.

Oct. 15 Cashmore and Alexander cut plea deals in return for testimony against Simpson. Cashmore agrees to plead guilty to being an accessory to robbery, Alexander to conspiracy to commit robbery.

Oct. 24 New charges of felony coercion are filed against Simpson, Stewart, Ehrlich and McClinton, bringing the total number of charges to 12.

Oct. 29 McClinton agrees to plead guilty to robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery in return for testimony against Simpson. McClinton’s lawyer says his client will tell the court Simpson asked him to bring guns to the hotel room.

Nov. 8 Simpson appears in Las Vegas Justice Court for preliminary hearing.

Nov. 14 A justice of the peace rules that Simpson and two other men should stand trial on 12 charges, including kidnapping and robbery. Arraignment is set for Nov. 28.


CHARGES & PENALTIES


Two counts of first-degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon, a felony, carrying the possibility of life in state prison or a definite term of 15 years, depending on the sentencing judge’s discretion. Parole eligibility begins after five years.

Two counts of robbery with use of a deadly weapon, a felony, mandatory 2-15 years in prison, plus a possible additional 1-15 years for use of a weapon.

Burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon, felony, 2-15 years.

Two counts of coercion with use of a deadly weapon, a felony, 2-12 years.

Two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, felony, 1-6 years.

Conspiracy to commit kidnapping, felony, 1-6 years.

Conspiracy to commit robbery, felony, 1-6 years.

Conspiracy to commit a crime, gross misdemeanor, 1 year in county jail.

Nevada state law allows probation for convictions on the lesser charges, but not for kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon and robbery with use of a deadly weapon.

Sources: AP reporting, Las Vegas police arrest reports, Las Vegas Justice Court records and Nevada Revised Statutes.

Tags: AP

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