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O.J. Simpson Found Guilty On All Counts

Former Football Star Convicted In Hotel Room Robbery

POSTED: 10:46 pm PDT October 3, 2008
UPDATED: 10:38 am PDT October 4, 2008

A jury found O.J. Simpson guilty Friday on all charges stemming from the alleged gunpoint robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers in a casino hotel room last year.

The 61-year-old former football star and a golfing buddy, 54-year-old Clarence "C.J." Stewart, were convicted of 12 counts:

  • Conspiracy to commit a crime
  • Conspiracy to commit a kidnapping
  • Conspiracy to commit a robbery
  • Two counts of first-degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon
  • Two counts of burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon
  • Two counts of robbery with use of a deadly weapon
  • Two counts of assault with a deadly weapon
  • Coercion with use of a deadly weapon
  • According to Las Vegas investigators, Simpson, Stewart and four former co-defendants -- Michael McClinton, Walter Alexander, Charles Ehrlich and Charles Cashmore -- barged into the hotel room, threatening Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong. They then allegedly robbed Fromong and Beardsley of some of Simpson's memorabilia.

    Fromong had to be hospitalized for a heart attack after Simpson's arrest, and Beardsley was arrested on a warrant violation in California. They were both able to make it to the preliminary hearing in November as well as the trial this month.

    During testimony, Fromong claimed that two of the people with Simpson were carrying guns. His testimony was interrupted after he became ill on the stand, but he went on to say that the group then took former Simpson belongings and left the room, which was caught on the Palace-Station surveillance tape.

    McClinton, Ehrlich, Cashmore and Alexander arranged plea deals. All four testified against Simpson and Stewart, confirming that goods were stolen and there were guns in the room at the time.

    Prosecutors attempted to cast the confrontation as conspiracy, kidnapping and armed robbery, thanks to a tape recording provided by Thomas Riccio, the man who set up the hotel-room meeting.

    Alexander and McClinton also testified that there were guns in the room, with McClinton saying Simpson told him to bring the weapons.

    Simpson's lawyers told the jury that the former football star was trying to retrieve keepsakes and family heirlooms that Simpson hoped to pass along to his children.

    They called only one witness for the hearing, friend Tom Scotto, who testified that Simpson was in town for his wedding. He added that two men who testified against Simpson wanted money, and they allegedly threatened to make things very bad for Simpson if they didn't get it.

    Stewart's attorneys also called only one witness, his cousin, Linda Lockheart. She testified that Stewart was elsewhere, entertaining friends at the time Simpson and others gathered to plan a hotel room confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers.

    Simpson, 61, and Stewart could face life in prison.

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