Judge orders O.J. Simpson arrested for missing hearing over alleged speeding in manatee zone

<br>MIAMI (AP) _ A judge ordered O.J. Simpson arrested Wednesday after both he and his attorney missed a court appearance on a charge the former football star sped through a manatee zone in a power boat.

Wednesday, November 6th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MIAMI (AP) _ A judge ordered O.J. Simpson arrested Wednesday after both he and his attorney missed a court appearance on a charge the former football star sped through a manatee zone in a power boat.

Judge Ana Maria Pando issued a bench warrant, which means Simpson would be arrested if he were spotted by police. The judge could withdraw the warrant if either Simpson or his attorney appears in her court.

Simpson's attorney, Yale Galanter, said his law firm had not received notice of the 9:45 a.m. court hearing. He declined to comment further.

Simpson chose to plead innocent instead of paying a $65 fine for the charge stemming from a July 4 incident near downtown Miami. He was ticketed for creating a wake in a manatee zone, the equivalent of a speeding ticket.

The plea, however, was filed five days after Simpson was issued an ``affidavit of noncompliance'' by Judge Martin Shapiro for failing to appear for a Sept. 12 arraignment. Galanter said then that Simpson was not required to appear in court on that date.

Simpson was acquitted of murder charges in Los Angeles in the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.

A civil jury later held Simpson liable for the killings and ordered him to pay the victims' survivors $33.5 million, a judgment that remains largely unpaid. Simpson now lives in Miami.

He continues to maintain his innocence in the killings.

Manatees, walrus-like animals also known as sea cows, are protected under federal endangered species laws. They are often injured or killed by speeding boats.