Simpson jailed as "flight risk" amid media frenzy

By Dan Whitcomb

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Former football star O.J. Simpson, acquitted in a sensational double murder trial in 1995, was being held without bail on Monday after being jailed and accused of armed theft of his own sports souvenirs from memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room.

Simpson was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy and burglary. An expletive-laden audiotape surfaced on Monday in which Simpson was apparently heard issuing threats.

The football player-turned actor was denied bail because he was considered a possible flight risk and had no ties to the local community, Clark County Judge Nancy Oesterle said.

He was due in court on Wednesday and could seek bail then, Oesterle told a throng of reporters outside a Las Vegas courthouse in a scene reminiscent of the murder trial in which the star athlete was found innocent of killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.

"I guess this is what they call a media frenzy," said Oesterle, who was appointed to handle media issues surrounding the case.

Chief Las Vegas prosecutor David Roger said his office would file a criminal complaint against Simpson and his co-defendants in the coming days and promised he would be treated fairly.

"While this case is certainly attracting more attention from the media than our other cases, we will treat this case with the same professionalism we afford all the cases we prosecute," Roger said.

A court spokesman said Simpson would likely be taken from the jail to the courthouse in an underground tunnel for the hearing and special arrangements were being made to accommodate the dozens of reporters seeking to attend.