Kobe charged with Sexual Assault

[cmp]

Kobe was charged with 1 count of felony sexual assault.

[Franklinnoble]

http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0718/1582691.html

Charges pressed by DA after two weeks of deliberation

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ESPN.com news services

EAGLE, Colo. -- Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant has been charged with one count of felony sexual assault, Eagle County prosecutor Mark Hurlbert announced today after two weeks of deliberation.

Bryant will face four years to life in prison, if convicted.

Bryant's Denver-based attorney, Pamela Mackey, has scheduled a news conference at 9 p.m. ET time tonight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, but there is no word whether Bryant will be there. Mackey also released a statement on Bryant's behalf shortly after the announcement.

"I am innocent of the charges filed today. I did not assault the woman who is accusing me," Bryant said in the statement. "I made the mistake of adultery. I have to answer to my wife and my God for my actions that night and I pray that both will forgive me. ... Nothing that happened June 30th was against the will of the woman who now falsely accuses me."

Bryant, 24, turned himself in to authorities July 4 and was released on $25,000 bond. The woman claims he attacked her at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in nearby Edwards on June 30.

His attorney has said the five-time NBA All-Star is innocent and was in Colorado for knee surgery at a Vail clinic. In a brief interview with the Los Angeles Times last week, Bryant said he "would never do something like that.''

Bryant attended the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, but avoided the media in his first public appearance since his arrest. He sat in the audience smiling and laughing with his wife, Vanessa.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[Franklinnoble]

Well, he's already admitted to cheating on his wife... so much for his squeaky-clean image.

Then again, maybe now he'll have more street cred, and be able to negotiate a better shoe deal. :rolleyes:

[Anrhydeddu]

You know, I have heard several times of Kobe's "squeaky-clean" image. How in the world is that determined? Just because he doesn't run the thug life publically does not mean he doesn't do some things that are ignored by the media. Is being squeaky clean mean simply not ever have been arrested?

[Coffee Warlord]

Not getting arrested is an accomplishment in the NBA.

Or it just means you're a rookie.

[Young Drachma]

I dunno...i mean, yeah he cheated. King James has evolved and he only cares about bball.. no video girlfriends..

if he's guilty, they'll do what they do to celebrities. But I have a hard time believing he's guilty...its one thing to force sex, but what's more likely is the fact that the girl wanted to mess around with a superstar.

That's insenstive and downright mean. Sure...but at the same time, it just doesn't make sense. It surely wasn't about power. He was bored, she was there...stuff happened. He probably got curious and I don't think it was the first time, but at least he admitted it. The fact that they released twin statements tells you that his media handlers are savvy. Most athletes would've mucked this up PR wise a lot worse.

The "truth" won't come out. That's because the case is sealed, the judge did that from the beginning, when they knew the media would tarnish any chance they'd have of making these charges stick. If he was guilty and she was victimized, the fact is, they could've done something other than letting him gallavant around the place.

If this were someone other than a superstar, it wouldn't be a media circus and that DA wouldn't be using this as a way to get his face on television, like the media whore they are.

So...yeah, anyway....

Squeaky clean or not, his reputation will survive. He's not doing anything other people don't do, haven't done or continue to do. The difference is, he was dumb, he got caught and now he's paying the price. Like Tiger with that interview (only different)...Kobe got too cozy with fame..this will wake him up.

[Anrhydeddu]

He's not doing anything other people don't do, haven't done or continue to do.

"other people" meaning?

[Franklinnoble]

Originally posted by Anrhydeddu
"other people" meaning?

President Clinton

[Young Drachma]

other people meaning athletes..etc.

adultery isn't sexual assault and at the point the judge has made the decision to "seal" the case and the DA doesn't want to release any of the facts - including the girl's name..seeing as she's not a minor - its just a coverup because they don't have a case.

until the facts are released or we have some substaniated, all we have is Kobe's "image", which is quickly tarnishing (much to the shagrin of some..surely) and this DA, with AP stories quoting how the girl was "good" and "honest" and came from a "good family" and what, Kobe came from a broken home in the hood?

I recognize she loses the game in the sense that Kobe has long been in the public eye and we feel like we "know" him, but the story just doesn't seem to add up. If they had substantive evidence, then they would release it, get him to plea bargain or nail his ass to the wall. Not hide it.

[Franklinnoble]

Originally posted by Dark Cloud

I recognize she loses the game in the sense that Kobe has long been in the public eye and we feel like we "know" him, but the story just doesn't seem to add up. If they had substantive evidence, then they would release it, get him to plea bargain or nail his ass to the wall. Not hide it.

Not necessarily. Besides, most of the details will leak out on their own. The judge, in sealing the case, is only doing everything prudent to prevent the defense from having an added grounds for appeal.

[Young Drachma]

Nothing has been leaked and its been two weeks. The same AP stories are getting recycled and we're not getting anything new. We STILL don't know the details surrounding the whole thing.

[sabotai]

"Just because he doesn't run the thug life publically does not mean he doesn't do some things that are ignored by the media."

Hence the term "squeaky-clean image".

So guys, what's the over/under on the length of trial? Odds of conviction?

[digamma]

Originally posted by Dark Cloud
adultery isn't sexual assault and at the point the judge has made the decision to "seal" the case and the DA doesn't want to release any of the facts - including the girl's name..seeing as she's not a minor - its just a coverup because they don't have a case.


Someone should correct me if I'm wrong--and I'm not familiar with Colorado laws, per se--but I think all victims (or accusers, as the case may be) of sexual assault have a right to have their name withheld. I don't think it is a matter of being a minor.

[MrBug708]

2 years probation maxiumum without him claiming he did it. Star power and money spent on lawyers

So sad to see

[albionmoonlight]

A professor of mine said that a criminal trial is the appeal from the press release announcing your inditment. Seems particularly fitting in this case.

[Franklinnoble]

Originally posted by sabotai

So guys, what's the over/under on the length of trial? Odds of conviction?

See: Simpson, O.J.

[Taur]

What I am looking forward to is watching a trial based solely on evidence.

--No race card being played to an all white jury.
--No Nature vs Nurture being played to an upper jury.

What I learned from the initial Defensive lawyer statements.

1) Colorado, Colorado, Colorado, Colorado. They mentioned the word Colorado 4 times on purpose as to where the trial was going to be held....Not Eagle County. A change of venue to the Denver area would allow the defense to play both the Race card and also the victim of Society card. But, proving the need for change will be tough. There is no lack of funding in this town. And, there are more hotel rooms than people.

2) Look for the Sheriff to be blamed as the "Rush to Judgement" guy. They mentioned that the Sheriff personally knew the girl through the H.S. DARE program. This "relationship" could come back to haunt them as it shows the girls involment in a group that is against Drugs and Alcohaul. Presenting the girl as a "Goody Goody" would not help the Defenses case


I hope it stays in Eagle County and is a battle of Evidence.