Former American football star OJ Simpson pleaded not guilty Wednesday to 12 felony counts, including kidnapping and armed robbery. Simpson, 60, is alleged to have burst into a Las Vegas hotel room in September with an armed gang, seizing 80,000 dollars worth of memorabilia from two dealers. A kidnapping conviction could result in a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole. An armed robbery conviction could mean mandatory prison time.

One of OJ Simpson's acolytes in his alleged Las Vegas armed heist has testified earlier this month that the former football star told him to bring a gun, contrary to Simpson's claims that he was unaware that guns were present. Three of his alleged acolytes have pleaded guilty to lesser charges and are testifying against Simpson, who has denied that any guns were used.

The case could see Simpson sentenced to life in prison, more than 10 years after he was controversially acquitted of the murder of his estranged wife and her friend in 1994. However, a civil court jury later found Simpson liable for the deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million in damages to the victims' families, which he didn't.

In his brief court appearance, Simpson stood and entered his plea before Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass, who set a trial date of April 7, 2008. Simpson's two co-defendants Clarence "CJ" Stewart and Charles "Charlie" Ehrlich also entered pleas of not guilty.

"He asked if we could bring some heat in case something goes wrong," Walter Alexander said on the third day of a Las Vegas court hearing, earlier this month, as part of his plea deal with prosecutors. "He (Simpson) said, 'It shouldn't be any problem but in case there are any problems, can you bring some guns?" Alexander said.

Simpson, Stewart and Ehrlich each face kidnapping, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, coercion and conspiracy charges in connection with the September incident.

Prosecutors claim that Simpson led an armed gang in a raid on the dealers in a seedy Las Vegas hotel in an illegal bid to recover memorabilia he believed was stolen from him. Simpson has denied knowing that guns would be used, though two participants in the raid turned state evidence and testified in a pre-trial hearing that Simpson asked them to bring guns to threaten the dealers.

Simpson is charged along with Clarence Stewart and Charles Erlich with conspiracy, kidnapping, armed robbery and burglary and could face life in prison if convicted. Thomas Riccio, an auctioneer who helped set up the Sept. 13 meeting, claims Simpson was standing in front of Michael McClinton, who waved the gun, and might not have seen him.