Suspect in ‘Our Gang’ actor’s death will face trial

Kim Smith

Friday, Nov. 15, 2002 | 10:24 a.m.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace James Bixler ruled Thursday that there is enough evidence to try a 52-year-old homeless man for murder in the death of "Our Gang" actor J.R. Smith.

Bixler made his decision to bind over Charles Crombie's case to District Court after hearing from six witnesses, including a Metro Police homicide detective and two pawn shop employees who testified Crombie pawned items belonging to Smith following Smith's death.

Crombie will be arraigned Thursday on charges of murder, robbery and fraudulent use of a credit card.

According to police reports, a man's partially clad body was found wrapped in a sheet near the Apex exit of Interstate 15 on Oct. 5. An autopsy revealed he had been stabbed many times in the abdomen.

Twelve days later Smith was reported missing by Janine Henry, Smith's stepdaughter, who learned her father hadn't been seen by neighbors since Oct. 1. She also reported that "Wayne," a homeless man her father had provided shelter to, also hadn't been seen since that date.

Metro Detective Barry Jensen testified Thursday that a search of Smith's home revealed that the rug in the master bedroom had been recently scrubbed, but still appeared to be blood-stained. A blood-soaked towel was also found along with two pillowcases that matched the sheet Smith's body was found in.

Pawn shop employees Echiko Park and Kenny Villasenor told Bixler that Crombie had pawned Smith's TV and VCR for $10 apiece.

Gold Coast cashier Debra Carr testified she allowed Crombie, a regular customer, to use Smith's credit card to obtain $300 cash on Oct. 17.

A month earlier, "he told me he got this good job taking care of this older gentleman, J.R. Smith," Carr said.

On Oct. 17, Carr said Crombie told her Smith was gambling at the casino and had asked him to get him more money with which to gamble.

Upon learning of the pawned items, detectives found out that Charles Crombie's middle name is Wayne and were able to match his picture to photos taken of "Wayne" and Smith together.

The pictures of Crombie were distributed to the Palms and Gold Coast and he was arrested inside the food court at the Palms on Oct. 24 after being spotted by security.

Smith's freckled face appeared in "Our Gang" short comedies as the characters "Freckles" and "Specs" from 1925 to 1929, better known to television audiences as "The Little Rascals."