Third defendant cuts deal to testify against O.J. Simpson
LAS VEGAS - A man whose lawyer says he can testify that O.J. Simpson asked him to bring guns to a confrontation with two sports-memorabilia dealers told a judge Monday that he’ll accept a plea deal and testify against Simpson and two other men.
Michael McClinton, 49, of Las Vegas, became the third man to agree to plead guilty to reduced charges in return for his testimony. He could end up being the star witness.
McClinton’s lawyer said he can testify that Simpson asked him to bring guns to a room at a Las Vegas casino hotel to get items Simpson said were his. That would contradict Simpson’s claim that no guns were involved.
McClinton wielded a gun and acted like a police officer Sept. 13 when Simpson and the others allegedly robbed two collectibles dealers, according to police reports. McClinton’s lawyer said his client worked as a security guard and had a concealed-weapons permit.
Authorities say memorabilia taken included football game balls signed by Simpson, Joe Montana lithographs, baseballs autographed by Pete Rose and Duke Snider, photos of Simpson with the Heisman Trophy, and framed awards and plaques, together valued at as much as $100,000, according to police reports.
Cutting deals with co-defendants to testify against Simpson could undercut prosecutors if they ever need to convince a jury that the former football star is guilty of serious crimes, legal experts said Monday.
But that could happen only if the case makes it past a preliminary hearing next week before a judge whose main concern will be what the evidence is rather than where it came from.
“This is a basic prosecution tactic that is very effective,” said Jody Armour, a law professor at the University of Southern California. “Its greatest weakness is that the jury is going to hear from the defense that the only reason they’re testifying is because they cut a deal that can benefit them.”
McClinton’s agreement to enter a plea was not a surprise, said Simpson lawyer Yale Galanter, who said he believed McClinton will be the final cooperating witness.
Walter Alexander, 46, a Simpson golfing buddy from Mesa, Ariz., has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, and Charles Cashmore, 40, a union laborer from Las Vegas, has pleaded guilty to felony accessory to robbery.
“What this comes down to is the real bad guys are pointing a finger at O.J., and the prosecution is giving away the courthouse to try to shore up their case,” Galanter said. “We look forward to cross-examining these witnesses.”
Simpson and co-defendants Clarence Stewart and Charles Ehrlich each face 12 criminal charges in the preliminary hearing beginning Nov. 8, including kidnapping, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy and coercion.