Bail denied in appeals by Simpson, Stewart

The Nevada Supreme Court Friday denied motions for bail from O.J. Simpson and his co-defendant while they appeal their convictions for kidnapping and armed robbery.

Lawyers for Simpson and Clarence "C.J." Stewart tried to convince the high court in August that their clients should be freed during the appeals because their trial was rife with legal mistakes.

In their order denying the motions, Justices Michael Cherry, Mark Gibbons and Nancy Saitta said the defendants did not meet the heavy burden needed to justify bail.

The Supreme Court noted that District Court Judge Jackie Glass had denied bail because the two men faced mandatory prison sentences and posed a flight risk after being convicted of "serious, nonprobationable, violent offenses, committed with the use of a firearm," the court said.

"It's disappointing, though not unexpected," said Stewart's attorney, Brent Bryson.

Bryson said he thought it was unusual that the Supreme Court held a hearing on the bail motion to begin with.

"The fact that they did still gives us high hopes for the ultimate appeal," he said.

Simpson's lawyer, Yale Galanter, could not be reached for comment.

Simpson, 62, and Stewart, 55, have been in prison since their sentencing in December. A jury convicted them in October on kidnapping and armed robbery charges in connection with a hotel room holdup of two sports memorabilia dealers.

Simpson was sentenced to nine to 33 years in prison. He has been at the Lovelock Correctional Center, a medium-security facility about 90 miles northeast of Reno.

Stewart, who received a slightly shorter sentence, is serving time at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City.

The two defendants are appealing their convictions on a number of trial-related issues, including how the jury was selected and whether the two men should have received separate trials.

The Supreme Court could take up to two years to rule on the appeals, which were filed in May.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.