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Judge Lectures, Then Doubles Simpson's Bail

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By LINDA DEUTSCH, The Associated Press

Published: January 17, 2008

LAS VEGAS - Hands cuffed at his waist and a defeated expression on his face, O.J. Simpson listened to a judge blister him Wednesday for "arrogance or ignorance or both" for breaking bail terms in a robbery case.

"I don't know, Mr. Simpson, what the heck you were thinking, or maybe that's the problem: You weren't," Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass lectured as she doubled his bail to $250,000.

Simpson's attorney, Yale Galanter, told The Associated Press in an e-mail late Wednesday that bail had been posted and that Simpson was expected to be released from jail.

Galanter earlier had said Simpson would post the deed to his home.

The former NFL star had been ordered to have no contact with co-defendants or witnesses after he was freed on bail in September on charges of orchestrating the armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers in a hotel room.

Wednesday's brief custody hearing was called because Simpson mentioned co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart while leaving a sputtering, foul-mouthed phone message two months ago for his bail bondsman, Miguel Pereira of You Ring We Spring.

"I just want, want C.J. to know that ... I'm tired of this expletive," Simpson said, according to a transcript. "Fed up with expletives changing what they told me. All right?"

Though there was no indication Stewart received the message, prosecutor Chris Owens suggested it was threatening. The judge said she didn't like the tone.

"I don't know if it's just arrogance. I don't know if it's ignorance," she said. "But you've been locked up at the Clark County Detention Center since Friday because of arrogance or ignorance - or both."

Simpson, 60, wearing a dark jail shirt and pants with orange slippers, grimaced as Glass announced she was doubling his bail. He spoke only when asked if he understood the terms.

"Yes, your honor," the graying football star said evenly.

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