LAS VEGAS - Two co-defendants pleaded guilty to reduced charges Tuesday in the O.J. Simpson armed robbery case, agreeing to testify against Simpson and three others in the alleged hotel room theft of sports collectibles from two memorabilia dealers.
"Guilty, sir,'' said Walter Alexander, who entered the plea to felony conspiracy to commit robbery. Charles Cashmore pleaded guilty to felony accessory to robbery during a separate arraignment minutes later.
Clark County District Attorney David Roger agreed to drop charges including kidnapping, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy against the two men, both of whom remained free pending sentencing.
Cashmore was released from house arrest. Roger said Cashmore could get probation or up to one to five years in prison at sentencing, which will come after an April 15 status check.
The district attorney said he would seek a suspended sentence for Alexander, which could get him probation instead of one to six years in prison.
Simpson, 60, of Miami, and the other three co-defendants did not have to appear while Alexander and Cashmore entered their pleas.
Simpson lawyer Gabriel Grasso said there had been no discussions with Roger on any plea deal for Simpson.
With testimony from the two men secured, prosecutors moved quickly to prepare revised charges against Simpson, Clarence (C.J.) Stewart, Michael McClinton and Charles Ehrlich.
An amended criminal complaint that includes a second felony charge of coercion against Simpson and two new coercion charges each against the other three, in a copy obtained by The Associated Press, is expected to be filed by Wednesday. Lawyers for the four were due in court Wednesday to discuss the revised complaint, which includes allegations Simpson and Stewart conspired to persuade others to tell authorities no guns were used.
The new charges include 11 felonies -- including kidnapping, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy and coercion -- and one gross misdemeanour, conspiracy to commit a crime. A kidnapping conviction alone could result in a sentence of life in prison with parole.
A preliminary hearing for the remaining defendants is set to start Nov. 8.
Cashmore's lawyer, Edward Miley, said Cashmore, 40, a journeyman labourer, bartender and disc jockey, can testify that Alexander and McClinton brought guns to the Sept. 13 confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers at a Las Vegas casino hotel room.
"I think he's anxious to get his story out there,'' Miley said outside the courthouse. Cashmore said he was relieved, but avoided other questions from reporters.
Miley has characterized Cashmore as a bit player and Simpson as the "big fish'' in what he called a botched robbery.
Cashmore, from Las Vegas, did not know Simpson before he was asked to help carry boxes from the room at the Palace Station hotel, his lawyer said.
Alexander, 46, a real estate salesman and Simpson golfing buddy from Mesa, Ariz., told police Sept. 15 that Simpson wanted armed men with him when he confronted Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley to retrieve items that Simpson said belonged to him.
"I'm at peace with what I've done today and what I'm going to do,'' Alexander said as he clutched a Bible outside court. "I'm not here to help or hurt O.J. Simpson. I"m only here to tell the truth.''
Alexander's lawyer, Robert Dennis Rentzer, has declined to say what testimony Alexander would provide. He has also expressed doubt that Cashmore knew whether Alexander was armed.
Simpson lawyer Yale Galanter said last week that Simpson's position remains that there were no guns brought to the room and he did not tell anyone to bring guns.
Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure will decide following the preliminary hearing whether there is enough evidence to bind the case against the aging football star and three co-defendants over for trial.
