Boggs hires Simpson lawyer

Former Clark County Commissioner Lynette Boggs showed up to court Wednesday with O.J. Simpson's local lawyer and pleaded not guilty to four felonies.

Last month, Bill Terry, Boggs' attorney at that time, told Hearing Master Kevin Williams that Boggs could not afford to pay a lawyer to defend her against charges stemming from her failed bid for re-election in 2006. Williams denied Boggs' request for a public defender.

On Wednesday, defense attorney Gabriel Grasso, who is representing Simpson on charges related to a Sept. 13 armed robbery, said Boggs found a way to retain him.

Grasso opened the door to the lower arraignment room Wednesday morning for Boggs and her entourage of friends, ending a month of speculation about who would represent her.

"I know the question is did she hire me because of the O.J. thing, and (the answer is) we've been talking for over a month," Grasso told reporters.

Grasso wouldn't elaborate as to what he is charging Boggs, her source of income or the date she retained him. He said she contacted him right after the Sept. 5 hearing in which the hearing master told her she needed to re-evaluate her finances and hire a lawyer.

"It's not a pro bono case," Grasso said.

Boggs has been hosting an Internet radio show called "Restore" through her nonprofit foundation and faith-based multimedia company, Faithworks, "to edify, celebrate and inspire every woman of every circumstance." The show is broadcast live on Thursdays at www.idradionetwork.com.

In the courtroom, Boggs stood at attention before television and newspaper cameras and loudly and clearly proclaimed she was "not guilty" after each of the four charges was read. She faces two counts of filing false documents and two counts of perjury.

The charges are bolstered by many hours of video, provided to police by the Culinary union and the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, that indicate Boggs was living at a home outside her district while running for office.

She also is accused of using campaign contributions to pay her baby sitter. Boggs has said she needed the sitter to attend campaign events.

Boggs, who is out of custody on her own recognizance, waived her right to a speedy trial, so Williams set a tentative trial date of Feb. 25 in the courtroom of District Judge Ken Cory.

Boggs declined to comment to reporters as she left the courtroom. "No. Please leave me alone," she said and appeared to be irritated.

During previous appearances at the courthouse for the case, she declined to speak to reporters but still wished them well or told them to have a nice day.

Grasso said he believed that Boggs has been treated unfairly compared with other local politicians.

"We feel this is somewhat of a situation where this has happened previously in Nevada politics and they've been handled in an ethics route," Grasso said.