Most of stolen O.J. memorabilia headed to California

Most of the sports memorabilia stolen in the O.J. Simpson armed robbery case will be turned over to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, a Las Vegas judge ordered today.

The collection of Simpson’s game footballs, signed photos and other items was seized as evidence shortly after the September 2007 holdup at a Palace Station hotel room.

Memorabilia dealer Bruce Fromong wanted the property returned to him, but District Judge Jackie Glass ordered the transfer to satisfy a California court turnover order.

That order arose from the $33.5 million civil judgment against Simpson, who was found liable in the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. The wrongful death case came after Simpson’s 1995 acquittal of double-murder charges in the slayings.

Testimony during Simpson’s Las Vegas trial hinted at a middle-of-the-night operation in the 1990s to empty his Los Angeles home of valuables, including the memorabilia, before sheriff’s deputies arrived to seize them.

At trial Simpson’s lawyers said he was trying to recover stolen family heirlooms when he led the hotel room raid.

A jury convicted Simpson, 61, and co-defendant Clarence “C.J.” Stewart, 54, on kidnapping and armed robbery charges.

Glass sentenced Simpson to between nine and 33 years in prison. Stewart received a slightly shorter sentence. Both men plan appeals.

On the day of the robbery, Fromong brought the items to the room for what he thought was a legitimate sales meeting. But the “buyer” turned out to be Simpson and five other men, who robbed Fromong and Alfred Beardsley at gunpoint.

Fromong had asked for $100,000 in restitution, plus medical costs related to heart and back troubles he attributed to the robbery. Glass awarded him $3,560, which included $2,400 for medical bills and $960 for signed baseballs that were stolen but never found.

A box of Joe Montana lithographs will also be returned to Fromong.

After the short hearing Friday, Fromong said he was unhappy with Glass’ decision to send the memorabilia, worth between $75,000 and $100,000, to California.

“I still maintain the stuff is mine, plain and simple,” he said. “They took the easy way out so they don’t have to try to deal with it.”

He also criticized the amount of money he was awarded for the missing baseballs signed by baseball greats Pete Rose and Duke Snider.

Glass said she arrived at the amount by looking at the online auction site eBay.

“These are people who have no idea how much sports memorabilia is worth,” Fromong said. “I got low-balled.”

In a Southern California courtroom this morning, Beardsley denied that he ever had Simpson’s football Hall of Fame ring, but a judge ordered him to hand over the ring if it ever comes into his possession.

Goldman family lawyers want the ring to help pay the civil judgment against Simpson.

Last week, Clark County district attorney’s investigator Bill Falkner said Beardsley told him “the only thing he received for his trouble in the case was Mr. Simpson’s Hall of Fame ring.”

During today’s 20-minute hearing, Beardsley denied saying anything about the ring or ever owning it.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact reporter Brian Haynes at bhaynes@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0281.