'Keep OJ in jail'
2008-01-16 20:06
Las Vegas - OJ Simpson's attorney denies the former football star violated his bail agreement, in a motion asking that his client again be let out of jail to await trial in his armed robbery case.
Attorney Gabriel Grasso's three-page document, filed late Tuesday, urges a judge to reject Clark County District Attorney David Roger's effort to have Simpson jailed without bail until his April 7 trial.
Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass was to hear arguments on the request on Wednesday.
Simpson, 60, will appear in court after spending five nights and four days at the Clark County jail, where police said he had been cooperative after arriving late Friday from Florida in the custody of his bail bondsman, Miguel Pereira.
The district attorney says Simpson told Pereira, in an expletive-laced message, to tell co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart how upset Simpson was about testimony during their preliminary hearing.
Grasso said the document "says OJ Simpson in no way violated any conditions of his release." Grasso declined further comment until the April hearing.
Roger's motion alleges Simpson "committed new crimes," but does not elaborate.
Dan Kulin, a spokesperson for Roger, declined to say whether new charges would be filed against Simpson.
Legal experts say the judge probably will allow Simpson another chance at bail because he is not facing a capital murder charge.
Simpson might get a stern rebuke and the judge could raise the bail amount if she agrees that Simpson violated a court order not to try to contact his co-defendants.
"A person is entitled to bail under the Nevada Constitution," said Tom Pitaro, a defence lawyer and adjunct professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Boyd School of Law.
"But the court can, and probably will, modify the conditions of his bail to get his attention," Pitaro said.
- SAPA