O. J. Simpson Arrested on Armed Robbery Charges

On Sunday, September 16, 2007, O. J. Simpson was arrested and booked at a county jail, in Las Vegas. Simpson was booked on charges which the Las Vegas police call a Hotel Armed Robbery. Simpson ordered held without bail.

Simpson received a phone call from Thomas Riccio, several weeks ago; telling him that collectors were selling items stolen from Simpson, at an auction. Riccio gave Simpson information about the name of the hotel and the room where the items would be found. Riccio set up a meeting with the collectors, under false pretense, that he had a private collector interested in buying Simpson's items. Riccio, then warned the site that he believed Simpson was planning on showing up to confront Alfred Beardsley, who was allegedly going to auction off Simpson's items.

Among the things that O. J. Simpson said was stolen from him included: a video from his first wedding; Hall of Fame certificate; and autographed sports collectibles. Simpson said he was only taking back what was stolen from him.

O. J. Simpson 60, told associated Press that he did not call the police to help him get back his stolen items because, the police was unresponsive to him ever since the 1944 slaying of his ex-wife and her
friend. O. J. Simpson was found innocent of both murder charges by a jury of twelve, in a court of law.

O. J. Simpson and five other men entered the hotel room. Witnesses said two men had guns. However, Simpson, who was the last to enter the room, was unarmed and was not carrying any weapons. The Las Vegas police did not allege that Simpson was armed with any weapons.

An audiotape was released, revealing a voice that appeared to be that of Simpson's voice; saying things like "don't let nobody out this room, think you can steal my (expletive) stuff and sell it?"

The recording was on a hand held recorder, said to belong to Thomas Riccio, co-owner of the auction house and the man who called Simpson and told him about his stolen items being sold by certain collectors. What was on Riccio's mind when he set this up is beyond me. Seems like a very crazy and dangerous thing to do.

Beardsley believes that Riccio and Mike Gilbert, O. J.'s former agent is at fault. Gilbert allegedly stole the items from Simpson. Riccio set up the pretense auction and called O. J. Simpson and warned him that his stolen items were being sold at this auction.

O. J. Simpson faces up to seven felony charges which can get him up to 30 years each in state prison, if convicted. It's a possibility that he could be facing more charges.

One other man has been arrested,in connections with the armed robbery, he was released on bail. This was one of the two men that witnesses said did have a gun. Las Vegas police are still seeking four other men connected with the alleged hotel armed robbery.