Simpson guilty on all counts

Oct 4, 2008 - 12:14 PM LAS VEGAS (Ticker) -- O.J. Simpson late Friday night was found guilty on all 12 charges, including conspiracy and assault with a deadly weapon, for his participation in the robbery and kidnapping of two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in September 2007.

Simpson's co-defendant, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, was convicted of the same charges, with the duo facing five years to life in prison due to their being found guilty on all counts. Sentencing is scheduled for December 5 at 12 p.m. EST.

They both had pleaded not guilty to all charges, including conspiracy, coercion and assault with a deadly weapon.

Deliberations began 13 years to the day after Simpson was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman in Los Angeles in 1994. After the "Trial of the Century," Simpson was found liable of the deaths in a civil suit and ordered to pay $33.5 million.

In his latest brush with the law, the 61-year-old Simpson is accused of walking into a Las Vegas hotel room on September 13, 2007 with Stewart and four other men and robbing the memorabilia dealers of items Simpson said had been stolen from him.

In closing arguments Thursday, the prosecution stated Simpson had recruited a pack of men to pull off the robbery. The prosecution also has argued that detaining the men with the intent to commit robbery is kidnapping.

Simpson's lawyer, Yale Galanter, has maintained Simpson's effort to get back the items was a mistake but not a crime.

Four other men who accompanied Simpson and Stewart - Charles Cashmore, Walter Alexander, Michael McClinton and Charles Ehrlich - pleaded guilty to lesser charges and testified for the prosecution during the 12-day trial, which ended with an emotional verdict that was read just before 2 a.m. EDT.

With family members and friends, including his daughter sitting nearby, Simpson was visibly shaken when the verdict was read. He cocked his head to the side and let out a disappointed sigh, growing increasingly despondent as each verdict was read.

While bailiffs placed handcuffs on him, Simpson seemed to fight back tears, while his sister Carmelita Durio sobbed and had to be consoled by a family friend.

Lawyers made a last-ditch effort to allow both Simpson and Stewart some free time before their sentencing date. They motioned for the defendants to have time "to get their affairs together" and reasoned that both had been cooperative with authorities and were not flight risks.

Motions for both men immediately were denied.

While Simpson is known to most Americans for his legal woes, his fame originated from a sparkling football career, which began with his success as a star running back for Southern California, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1968.

In the NFL, Simpson earned a spot in the Pro Bowl six times and was named an All-Pro on five occasions. He also rushed for a then-record 2,003 yards in 1973, becoming the first player to surpass the 2,000-yard plateau.

Simpson racked up 11,236 yards and 61 TDs in his career, earning a place in the Hall of Fame in 1985.