Senses_Falling
07-07-2003, 07:31 PM
Kobe Bryant sexually assaulted a young woman during a hotel room in Colorado.
VAIL, Colo. -- Prosecutors met with sheriff's officials Monday to decide whether Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant will be charged with sexually assaulting a woman at a hotel near Vail.
In a brief statement, Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert said his discussions with the sheriff were intended to figure out the next move. A news conference was scheduled for later Monday.
An arrest warrant for the 24-year-old Bryant, one of the NBA's brightest and most respected stars, was issued after a woman accused him of sexual misconduct on June 30 at a hotel near Edwards, outside Vail, authorities said. The woman was not identified.
Bryant turned himself in to authorities Friday, the sheriff's office said. The married father of a baby girl was released that day after posting $25,000 bond.
Bryant stayed June 30 and July 1 at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, a gated resort in Edwards, bellman Blake Nall said Monday. A spa manager did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Bryant's attorney has said he was in Colorado for surgery on his right knee at Vail's Steadman Hawkins Clinic. No other details were released by authorities and the case has been sealed by a judge.
The sheriff's office said Bryant has been cooperative.
Bryant's attorneys accused the sheriff's office of "complete bias'' and said it ignored the wishes of the district attorney in obtaining the arrest warrant.
"Mr. Bryant is innocent and expects to be completely exonerated,'' Denver attorney Pamela Mackey said in a statement. "Contrary to the direct instruction of the district attorney's office, the Eagle County sheriff's office sought and obtained an arrest warrant ... this action illustrates the complete bias of the sheriff's office.''
Mackey did not immediately return a call seeking elaboration. Attempts to reach Bryant were not successful and his whereabouts were not known.
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said the allegations against his All-Star guard were completely out of character.
"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,'' he said. An NBA spokesman declined comment.
Nike would not comment on Bryant's case.
"We're pleased to work with Kobe Bryant as he is a great player," Nike spokesman Nigel Powell told ESPN.com. "But since this is a legal matter, we cannot comment at this time."
Bryant recently signed a five-year endorsement deal with Nike believed to be worth more than $8 million per year.
After concluding it had enough evidence for a felony sexual assault charge, the sheriff's office sought the arrest warrant directly from a judge. In Colorado, police and sheriff's deputies can arrest someone on suspicion of a crime but only the district attorney's office can file charges.
Hurlbert said he was aware of the case, but didn't know why authorities didn't request a warrant through his office. Kim Andree, spokeswoman for the sheriff, said it is not unusual for authorities to go directly to a judge and she dismissed speculation of a rift between prosecutors and the sheriff's office.
Since entering the NBA straight from high school at the age of 18, Bryant has drawn comparisons to the league's great players.
He was the NBA's second-leading scorer last season, averaging a career-best 30 points. He scored 40 or more points in nine straight games in February and had career-high averages of 6.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists.
Despite early struggles -- he airballed three jumpers during the waning moments of the Lakers' series-ending loss to the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference semifinals his rookie season -- Bryant was a star when Los Angeles won three consecutive titles from 2000-02. He was the MVP of the 2002 All-Star game.
Along with determination, Bryant has often shown dignity and heart many fans feel are missing from other NBA stars. Intelligent -- he speaks fluent Italian and scored 1080 on his SATs -- and blessed with a camera friendly smile, Bryant is frequently seen on television in advertising campaigns. He signed an endorsement deal with Nike last month.
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. Bryant wore his hospital ID bracelet in a game the day after his daughter was born.
Despite his shoulder problems, the Lakers expect he'll be ready by the start of training camp in October.
:sexy:Bryant's a pimp eh?
VAIL, Colo. -- Prosecutors met with sheriff's officials Monday to decide whether Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant will be charged with sexually assaulting a woman at a hotel near Vail.
In a brief statement, Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert said his discussions with the sheriff were intended to figure out the next move. A news conference was scheduled for later Monday.
An arrest warrant for the 24-year-old Bryant, one of the NBA's brightest and most respected stars, was issued after a woman accused him of sexual misconduct on June 30 at a hotel near Edwards, outside Vail, authorities said. The woman was not identified.
Bryant turned himself in to authorities Friday, the sheriff's office said. The married father of a baby girl was released that day after posting $25,000 bond.
Bryant stayed June 30 and July 1 at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, a gated resort in Edwards, bellman Blake Nall said Monday. A spa manager did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Bryant's attorney has said he was in Colorado for surgery on his right knee at Vail's Steadman Hawkins Clinic. No other details were released by authorities and the case has been sealed by a judge.
The sheriff's office said Bryant has been cooperative.
Bryant's attorneys accused the sheriff's office of "complete bias'' and said it ignored the wishes of the district attorney in obtaining the arrest warrant.
"Mr. Bryant is innocent and expects to be completely exonerated,'' Denver attorney Pamela Mackey said in a statement. "Contrary to the direct instruction of the district attorney's office, the Eagle County sheriff's office sought and obtained an arrest warrant ... this action illustrates the complete bias of the sheriff's office.''
Mackey did not immediately return a call seeking elaboration. Attempts to reach Bryant were not successful and his whereabouts were not known.
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said the allegations against his All-Star guard were completely out of character.
"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,'' he said. An NBA spokesman declined comment.
Nike would not comment on Bryant's case.
"We're pleased to work with Kobe Bryant as he is a great player," Nike spokesman Nigel Powell told ESPN.com. "But since this is a legal matter, we cannot comment at this time."
Bryant recently signed a five-year endorsement deal with Nike believed to be worth more than $8 million per year.
After concluding it had enough evidence for a felony sexual assault charge, the sheriff's office sought the arrest warrant directly from a judge. In Colorado, police and sheriff's deputies can arrest someone on suspicion of a crime but only the district attorney's office can file charges.
Hurlbert said he was aware of the case, but didn't know why authorities didn't request a warrant through his office. Kim Andree, spokeswoman for the sheriff, said it is not unusual for authorities to go directly to a judge and she dismissed speculation of a rift between prosecutors and the sheriff's office.
Since entering the NBA straight from high school at the age of 18, Bryant has drawn comparisons to the league's great players.
He was the NBA's second-leading scorer last season, averaging a career-best 30 points. He scored 40 or more points in nine straight games in February and had career-high averages of 6.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists.
Despite early struggles -- he airballed three jumpers during the waning moments of the Lakers' series-ending loss to the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference semifinals his rookie season -- Bryant was a star when Los Angeles won three consecutive titles from 2000-02. He was the MVP of the 2002 All-Star game.
Along with determination, Bryant has often shown dignity and heart many fans feel are missing from other NBA stars. Intelligent -- he speaks fluent Italian and scored 1080 on his SATs -- and blessed with a camera friendly smile, Bryant is frequently seen on television in advertising campaigns. He signed an endorsement deal with Nike last month.
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. Bryant wore his hospital ID bracelet in a game the day after his daughter was born.
Despite his shoulder problems, the Lakers expect he'll be ready by the start of training camp in October.
:sexy:Bryant's a pimp eh?