Judge gives O.J. cohort break on probation violation

A judge gave a former O.J. Simpson co-defendant a stern warning and a break Tuesday, ordering him to attend an inpatient drug treatment program instead of sending him to prison for a probation violation.

"I'll give you an opportunity to take care of the issues regarding drug usage," Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass told 41-year-old Charles Cashmore after he was brought to court in handcuffs.

Cashmore was arrested on New Year's Eve after testing positive for methamphetamine, a violation of strict probation Glass gave him in the Simpson case of armed robbery and kidnapping.

Cashmore was the first of four Simpson accomplices to take a plea deal in the case, after initially facing the same charges as Simpson and Clarence "C.J." Stewart.

Cashmore, a journeyman laborer originally from Billings, Mont., testified against the former football star at his trial last year and pleaded guilty in October 2007 to a reduced felony, accessory to robbery.

Simpson, 61, and Stewart, 55, were convicted of kidnapping and robbing two sports memorabilia dealers in September 2007 at a Las Vegas casino-hotel. Simpson was sentenced to nine to 33 years in prison.

"Don't violate your probation any longer because the next place you're going to take care of your drug issues is prison," Glass told Cashmore on Tuesday.

Clark County District Attorney David Roger did not oppose the move.

Cashmore's lawyer, Edward Miley, told the judge that Cashmore has completed "chemical dependency courses" during the 60 days he's been held at the Clark County jail.

Simpson is serving his sentence at a medium-security prison in Lovelock in northern Nevada. Stewart is serving 7 1/2 to 27 year sentence at High Desert State Prison in Indian Springs.