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Simpson charged with 10 felonies

O.J. Simpson, seen Sunday, is to be arraigned today on felony charges in the theft of memorabilia in a Las Vegas hotel room. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Ashley Powers Los Angeles Times
O.J. Simpson, seen Sunday, is to be arraigned today on felony charges in the theft of memorabilia in a Las Vegas hotel room. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

LAS VEGAS – O.J. Simpson and three other men were charged Tuesday with 10 felony counts, including kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon, in the purported theft of at least $80,000 worth of sports memorabilia from a hotel room.

If convicted, Simpson, 60, could face life in prison.

The former NFL star is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center. Simpson – who was acquitted in the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman – is scheduled to be arraigned this morning.

Also charged in last week’s alleged armed robbery at the Palace Station Hotel & Casino were Walter Alexander, 46, of Arizona, and Las Vegas residents Clarence Stewart, 53, and Michael McClinton, 49. Alexander was released this week on his own recognizance, and Stewart posted $78,000 bail. McClinton turned himself into police Tuesday.

The four men face charges of conspiracy to commit a kidnapping; coercion with a deadly weapon; burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon; conspiracy to commit robbery, and two counts each of first-degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon, robbery with use of a deadly weapon and assault with a deadly weapon. They also were each charged with one misdemeanor count of conspiracy to commit a crime.

Simpson has said he was in Las Vegas for the wedding of Thomas Scotto, 45, who was one of the initial suspects but later was cleared, said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Lt. Clint Nichols.

Simpson’s daughter was the wedding planner, Lucherini said, and Thursday had asked Stewart, a Simpson golfing buddy, to help her run errands. When Stewart dropped her off, Simpson jumped in Stewart’s Lincoln Navigator with two other men. Simpson told Stewart that he needed a ride to reclaim his stolen property.