Colorado Police Arrest Bryant For Felony Sexual Assault

[BettorsChat]

DENVER (July 6) -- Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant turned himself in to police and posted a $25,000 bond on a felony count of sexual assault, the Eagle County sheriff's office said Sunday.

The 24-year-old All-Star guard was released after turning himself in on Friday.

The sheriff's office said an arrest warrant was issued after deputies investigated a woman's claims Tuesday of sexual misconduct by Bryant. The incident happened the previous night in a hotel in the Edwards area of Eagle County, near Vail, the sheriff's office said in a statement.

After a series of interviews and a review of the physical evidence, investigators met with representatives for District Attorney Mark Hurlbert and concluded they had enough evidence for the felony sexual assault count, the sheriff's office said.

Hurlbert said Sunday night he hadn't made a decision on whether to file charges and had not yet seen the arrest report. He said the sheriff's office asked a judge for an arrest warrant instead of requesting one through his office, the usual practice.

"During the investigation, Bryant was cooperative with investigators and remains cooperative with authorities,'' the sheriff's office said.

Judge Russell Granger ordered the case sealed.

Attempts to reach Bryant for comment were not immediately successful.

"These allegations are completely out of character of the Kobe Bryant we know,'' Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. "For the seven years he's been with us, he has been one of the finest young men we've known and a wonderful asset to both our team and our community.

"However, since this is a legal matter being handled by the authorities in Colorado, we must refrain from further comment at this time.''

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the league had no immediate comment.

Bryant was the NBA's second-leading scorer last season, averaging a career-best 30 points a game. He scored 40 or more points in nine straight games in February and also had career-high averages of 6.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists while playing in each of the Lakers' 82 games.

The Lakers were eliminated from the Western Conference semifinals by the San Antonio Spurs, ending Los Angeles' run of three straight NBA championships.

Bryant underwent shoulder surgery on June 12 in New York. The Lakers expect he'll be ready by the start of training camp in October.

Bryant married Vanessa Laine in April 2001. Bryant and his parents recently mended a rift that developed when he became engaged to Laine when she was an 18-year-old high school student.

Vanessa gave birth to their first child, Natalia Diamante Bryant, in January.

[BettorsChat]

EAGLE, Colo. (July 18) - Kobe Bryant was charged Friday with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman in a case bound to tarnish the career of one of the NBA's biggest superstars.

The 24-year-old Bryant faces four years to life in prison if convicted on the single felony count, Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert told reporters during a news conference. He said Bryant used ''physical force'' and caused ''sexual penetration or intrusion.''

The Los Angeles Lakers star immediately proclaimed his innocence, but acknowledged that he ''made the mistake of adultery'' with the woman, who worked the front desk at the resort where Bryant was staying while in Colorado for knee surgery.

''Nothing that happened June 30th was against the will of the woman who now falsely accuses me,'' Bryant said in a statement.

His wife, Vanessa, also released a statement, saying she stood by her husband. ''He is not a criminal,'' she said.

Hurlbert refused to talk about the details of the case. He said he reviewed all evidence during the last two weeks and consulted prosecutors around the state before making his decision.

''I have an ethical burden not to prosecute a case unless I can prove it beyond a reasonable doubt,'' he said. ''I feel that after reviewing the evidence after looking at the evidence that I can prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt.''

Bryant, free on $25,000 bail, must return to court in Eagle on Aug. 6 for a hearing.

The case has riveted the sports world for nearly two weeks because it involves one of the NBA's brightest and most magnetic young stars. The recently married father of a baby girl has also used his wholesome image to land multimillion-dollar endorsement deals.

Documents in the case, including the arrest warrant, have been sealed.

Authorities have said Bryant assaulted the woman June 30 at the gated Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in nearby Edwards. He was in Colorado for knee surgery at a Vail clinic, and was booked at the lodge from June 30 to July 2.

Eagle County sheriff's deputies took Bryant to Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs for tests early July 2, later letting him leave in a taxi with his bodyguards.

The woman also underwent tests, and Hurlbert has said he needed information from the state crime lab before making his decision.

Bryant surrendered to authorities July 4 and was released an hour later after posting $25,000 bond. The sheriff refused to release Bryant's booking photo for days.

The arrest was announced July 6, prompting a firestorm of media attention on this small mountain town 100 miles west of Denver. Reporters swamped the cul-de-sac where the woman lives with her parents, but she has said nothing publicly. Her family has consulted an attorney.

The woman is well-known in Eagle as a former high school cheerleader and talented musician who auditioned for ''American Idol'' last year.

The news stunned basketball fans: Bryant, a five-time All-Star who has already won three titles with the Lakers, is by most accounts a quiet man who prefers dinner with a few friends to joining teammates for a night on the town.

Sports marketing experts say the case will be a permanent blow to Bryant's image, and could cost him millions in lost endorsements.

Bryant entered the NBA in 1996 at age 18, straight out of high school. He has drawn comparisons to the league's all-time greatest players as he has helped Los Angeles win consecutive titles from 2000-02.

Along with his determination, Bryant has also shown class, something many fans feel are missing from other NBA stars. He wept when the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs by San Antonio in May, and he wore his hospital ID bracelet in a game the day after his daughter was born.

He married Vanessa Laine in April 2001. The two met on the set of a music video where Laine was working and got engaged while she was still in high school. Vanessa gave birth to their first child, Natalia Diamante Bryant, in January.

[wayne1218]

UNREAL..... And now he admits to having sex with her. Why didn't he come out with that before charges were filed? What a joke and with his wife i would never leave the house(she's smokin'). I wish she would take half of everything and dump his ass.

[Homer]

I agree with you on that one.

If I was single I would be all over his wife

what a dumb ass

[wayne1218]

If he wanted to live the life of Magic Johnson then he never should have been married.Show Time needs to keep it in their pants.

[savage1]

The sad part is that if history is any indication of what will happen, someone with his popularity status will simply be put on probation and have to do 100 hours of community service(counselling teens on safe sex?).

[wayne1218]

savage1

GUARANTEED !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Trotter]

These Athletes are soooooo stupid, you know LeBron James is next,right? The over/under on LeBron getting in serious trouble is 1.5 years Under -130.....Everyone will say" Nah man ,he's a good kid" .... that's what they said about Kobe too.....and Wayne is correct about Kobe's wife, DAMN !!!! she is fine,She is supermodel status from pics I have seen of her, If you were a super athlete and could have any chick in the world,why would you get married anyways? Stupid,Dumb pot smoking NBA Players,they deserve it for the money they make and have no skills to boot, and here come the super clean,no drugs,modest,non-Bling-Bling,non-gangsta wanna-be Europeans to show us how to play ball ( NBA players deserve it )....... anyone see that HBO Sports show with Bryant (or the other one) Gumbel?

[BettorsChat]

Originally posted by wayne1218
UNREAL..... And now he admits to having sex with her. Why didn't he come out with that before charges were filed? What a joke and with his wife i would never leave the house(she's smokin'). I wish she would take half of everything and dump his ass.

Exactly what I was screaming at the TV interview with the dumb reporters who failed to ask that question. Why did he not admit to having sex with her prior to the DNA evidence that proved he did??

His Female (LOL should have known that was coming) is already setting up the grounds for an appeal by stating that the police have leaked info that might lead to a unfair trial.

He will not see any Jail time as he has too many bucks. Once the criminal case is over she will have a Civil case against him and collect millions.

[BettorsChat]

Rumored that the girl laying down in the front row on the right is the girl.

[BettorsChat]

EAGLE, Colo. (July 19) - The sexual assault charge brought against Kobe Bryant and his admission that ``he made the mistake of adultery'' threaten to spoil his reputation as one of the NBA's classiest role models and cast a cloud over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant appeared at a Los Angeles news conference holding hands with wife Vanessa on Friday and said he was innocent of the criminal charge and insisted the act was consensual.

``I sit here in front of you guys, furious at myself, disgusted at myself for making the mistake of adultery,'' he said.

Bryant, 24, was charged Friday with a single count of felony sexual assault against a 19-year-old woman at an exclusive spa where he was staying when he came to Colorado for knee surgery. If convicted, he faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation, and a fine of up to $750,000.

Bryant's attorney, Pamela Mackey, said he will plead innocent.

Even if he is ultimately cleared, the criminal charge and admission of infidelity will almost certainly change the public perception of Bryant.

His squeaky-clean image made him one of the NBA's most recognizable and marketable stars. He recently signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Nike and has endorsement deals with Sprite, McDonald's and Spalding.

A poll last fall by Burns Sports & Celebrities Inc. rated him the third-best product endorser in sports, behind Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan.

Bryant could lose millions of dollars in endorsements.

``The image was of a perfect role model, a superstar athlete who didn't have a parking ticket, the all-American boy and now, well, that image is tarnished,'' said Bob Williams, chief executive of Burns Sports. ``As of today and until the trial, his image is going to take a beating.''

Nike spokesman Nigel Powell said Friday, ``Kobe has stated that he is innocent of the charges today. You will understand that this is a legal matter and we cannot comment further at this time.''

Bryant's team could feel the sting as well.

The Lakers became the favorites to win the NBA championship next season after signing point guard Gary Payton and power forward Karl Malone.

Malone said he doesn't expect Bryant's troubles to be a distraction. But the case is bound to take an emotional toll on Bryant, and a conviction would mean the Lakers would lose one of the league's best players in the prime of his career.

``Naturally, we're disappointed with today's announcement,'' Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. ``While there are many questions concerning this issue, we will wait for time and the judicial process to answer them.''

Bryant said Friday he was thinking more of his family than his career.

``I have a lot at stake, and it has nothing to do with the game of basketball and it has nothing to do with endorsements,'' said Bryant, who fought back tears several times during the news conference.

``It has to do with my family and being falsely accused. And, I'm innocent. We're going to fight this all the way to the end.''

Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert filed the charge after spending two weeks reviewing evidence and consulting with other prosecutors.

``I feel after reviewing the evidence that I can prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt,'' Hurlbert said.

Mackey said the sexual encounter was ``between two consenting adult.'' She criticized the decision to file charges, saying the evidence wasn't strong enough to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.

``The evidence in this case falls far, far short of that standing. The accusations in this case cannot be proven because they are false,'' she said.

Legal experts said that prosecutors have a tough task because the case appears to hinge mainly on Bryant's word against that of the alleged victim.

``He said, she said'' cases can be the toughest for prosecutors, said Steve Kron, a longtime sports criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles.

``How do they prove it's not consensual? It's hard to prove (with) two adults in a room having sex that the sex was not consensual.

``Do you have witnesses or physical evidence? Was she bruised, scratched, injured in some fashion?''

The alleged assault occurred June 30 at the gated Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in nearby Edwards, where the woman worked at the front desk.

Bryant returned to California after undergoing unspecified medical tests in Colorado on July 2 at the request of investigators. He returned to Eagle on July 4, surrendered to authorities and was released an hour later after posting $25,000 bond.

Bryant is scheduled to return to Eagle for a hearing on Aug. 6.

Bryant tearfully addressed his wife at the news conference.

``You're a blessing, you're a piece of my heart, the air I breathe, and you're the strongest person I know and I'm so sorry for having to put you through this, putting my family through this,'' Bryant said, pausing several times as he spoke.

Vanessa Bryant, who gave birth to the couple's first child in January, did not speak at the news conference. In a statement released earlier, she said her husband was not a criminal.

``He is a loving and kind husband and father,'' she said. ``I believe in his innocence. Because I know him to be innocent, I will stand by him and we will face this together.''

Some fans weren't convinced.

Patricia Brewer, who was at the Staples Center for her daughter's basketball game, was shocked at the news.

``I love him so much and I'll still keep an open mind and hope that this is all a mistake,'' Brewer said. ``But you know, if it's true, then he's just another man masquerading as a family man, fooling us all, and that just makes your heart sink.''

[BettorsChat]

Kobe's Wife

[zeib10]

In his interview, Kobe said it's about family now and not basketball. He loves his wife so much and the only thing he is guilty of is adultery.

Two things from this:
1 - How many other times has he done this (adultery) and why is his wife still with him?

2 - Why didn't he think of this in June?

Hope he gets what he deserves.

[wayne1218]

It's TOTAL

[Bookie Buster]

"DONT MESS WITH TEXAS" ERR COLORADO..LOL...
DUDE COULD DO SOME SERIOUS TIME HERE...COLORADO HAS SOME TOUGH ASS LAWS ON THIS...........