2 Plead Guilty, Agree to Testify Against O.J.

Oct 24, 09:47 AM

Current Headlines: By Evan S. Benn, The Miami Herald

Oct. 24--Two co-defendants pleaded guilty Tuesday in Las Vegas to reduced charges in the O.J. Simpson armed robbery case, court officials said.

The men -- Walter Alexander and Charles Cashmore -- agreed to testify against Simpson and three others in the alleged Sept. 13 theft of sports collectibles from two memorabilia dealers.

Alexander pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy to commit robbery; Cashmore pleaded guilty to felony accessory to robbery. Prosecutors dropped other charges, including kidnapping, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy.

Simpson, 60, of Kendall, and the other three co-defendants did not have to appear while Alexander and Cashmore entered their pleas.

Simpson's attorneys said there have been no discussions about any plea deal for Simpson, who is scheduled in court Nov. 8 for a preliminary hearing. Yale Galanter, Simpson's Miami attorney, criticized the district attorney for making deals with co-defendants.

"The district attorney's office is giving away the courthouse in order to make deals," Galanter said, according to The Associated Press. "Obviously, the district attorney is looking to make a case against O.J. Simpson and is offering people incredible deals in an effort to do that."

Testimony from Alexander and Cashmore is expected to bolster the prosecution's case against Simpson and co-defendants Clarence Stewart, Michael McClinton and Charles Ehrlich during the hearing next month.

Those four men have been charged with nine felonies and one gross misdemeanor charge. A kidnapping conviction alone could result in a sentence of life in prison with parole. Simpson faces an additional felony charge of coercion because he allegedly took one of the dealer's cellphones.

Las Vegas Judge Joe Bonaventure will decide after the preliminary hearing whether there is enough evidence to bind the case against the former football star and three co-defendants over for trial.

This report was supplemented with material from The Associated Press.

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