O.J. Charged in Road Rage Incident

Feb. 9 -- As he headed into court today to face road rage charges, O.J. Simpson pushed his way through a throng of reporters and laughed off questions about the charges against him.

Simpson is charged with second-degree burglary of a car and misdemeanorbattery, and surrendered to authorities today. He allegedly reached into a man's car and pulled off the driver's glasses during a road-rage argument in December. The charges carry a combined 16 years behind bars. He surrendered at the Miami-Dade County jail and was released two hours later on $9,000 bond.

State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said Simpson wouldprobably not serve any time if convicted. Prosecutors say it is especially unlikely since he's never been convicted of a crime.

"The goal here will be to find some sort of programming orsentence that would involve learning how to control oneself,whether it's on the road or elsewhere," Rundle said.

He mugged for the news cameras as his attorney Yale Galanter read a statement to the media, calling the incident "a road rage misunderstanding."

"I know it's a story if I am arrested, but I don't think this qualifies with all the other things that have happened in my life," Simpson said, laughing.

While his attorney was talking, Simpson signed an autograph fora woman who approached him.

Man Says Simpson Scratched Him With Glasses

Motorist Jeffrey Pattinson, 55, told police Simpson scratchedhim when he pulled the glasses off during the Dec. 4 dispute, according to The Associated Press.

Pattinson told police he slammed on his brakes and honked at asport utility vehicle after he saw the SUV drive past a stop signin suburban Kendall, where Simpson now lives. Simpson stopped, gotout and walked toward Pattinson's car, where they argued, according to Pattinson.

Pattinson said he heard a girl shouting, "No, Daddy, no, Daddy,no!" when Simpson reached into his car.

Simpson has denied wrongdoing.

"I have been on the record saying I felt it was a non-incident and that's what the facts will show," Simpson said.