A judge set bond at $125,000 for O.J. Simpson in an alleged armed robbery of sports memorabilia collectors. Simpson stood before the judge, hands cuffed, wearing a blue jail jumpsuit as the charges were read.
He answered quietly in a hoarse voice and nodded as Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure Jr. detailed charges of kidnapping and robbery, among others, and laid out restrictions for his release.
Simpson did not enter a plea.
Unlike his arraignment in the killings of his ex-wife and a friend in 1994, when he declared he was “absolutely 100 percent not guilty,” Simpson was subdued throughout the proceeding.
“Mr. Simpson do you understand the charges against you?” the judge asked.
“Yes, sir,” Simpson said.
The judge said the conditions of release included surrender of his passport to his attorney and no contact with co-defendants or potential witnesses.
“If you see them walking down the street, you’re to cross the street,” the judge said. “You do not use any means to contact these individuals. Don’t use e-mail, telephone, mail, passenger pigeon, no, whatsoever, contact.”
OJ Simpson faces multiple charges including armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the alleged theft of items of sports memorabilia from a Las Vegas casino hotel room, police said.
The former American football star, who was sensationally acquitted in one of the biggest murder trials in US history, was arrested on at least six counts in relation to the reported robbery on Thursday.
They include 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, Las Vegas police announced at a news conference.
All the counts are felonies and carry potentially lengthy sentences.
Capt. James Dillon, of Las Vegas police, said the 60-year-old ex-sports star could still face additional charges.
Simpson was arrested yesterday at the Palms Hotel around 11am and was being held at Las Vegas police offices pending the arrival of his lawyer, Capt Dillon said. “He was very cooperative, there were no issues.”
Bail had not yet been set, he added.
The charges stem from an incident at the Palace Station casino on Thursday in which a group of armed men said to include Simpson allegedly stormed into a hotel room and snatched sporting memorabilia from two dealers.
Simpson was questioned by police about the incident late that night before being released.
The alleged stolen items included “sports-related products” according to authorities.
Alfred Beardsley, a collector of sports memorabilia, told the website TMZ that he called police after the men entered pretending to be customers, Simpson demanded the items, claiming they were his, and the men left with the items.
Mr Beardsley told the website two of the men pulled guns during the alleged robbery. Police recovered the weapons yesterday.
Neither were said to belong to Simpson, who had told police no guns were involved.
The former sports star, who lives in Florida, has denied any wrongdoing and claimed he was conducting his own ’sting’ operation to recover items that belonged to him.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he said he and some “golfing buddies” had gone to the hotel to reclaim personal possessions, including sports souvenirs and photographs allegedly taken by Nicole Brown-Simpson, his ex-wife who he is accused of murdering in 1994.
“I’m not walking around feeling sad or anything. I’ve done nothing wrong,” said the ex-footballer, who was best man at a wedding in Las Vegas on Saturday. “I’m having a great time.”
Another man was arrested in connection with the robbery and police are seeking as many as four more suspects.
