I think we know this much at least: 1. He and the woman met. How else would she know he was in Denver? 2. Choir boy reputation or not, they likely had sex. The article says that he was arrested after a review of the physical evidence. Unless the sherriff is purposefully leading us astray, that likely is semen, hair, and other forensic evidence. So, I think those who refuse to believe just based on Kobe's reputation need to consider the possibility. It seems to me he is at least an adulterer. That's a far cry from a rapist, but not really choir boy behavior either. Btw, lawyers or anyone: do you know why everything is sealed and we don't even get the accuser's name? Is it because it is a sex assault case? Or because of Kobe's fame? Might it be due to the victim's age?
i don't do criminal work...so i don't know for sure...but my bet is because it's sexual assault at issue.
I just hope it isn't true. The league's image doesn't need further tarnishing. Having one of its biggest stars involved in something like this? Real bad. Amazing though. So many variables. If it's true, the poor woman; the BS image that Kobe projects, etc. If it's false, poor Kobe, etc. And maybe Kobe is guilty of something (extramarital sex?) but not of an actual crime. I'm no Lakers fan, but I want Kobe to be innocent. And yet they have enough evidence to arrest him.
Remember when the Woman accussed Michael Irvin and Eric Williams of assaulting her? There are too many women out there who are preying on the rich and famous athlete. I am going to stick by Kobe until proven otherwise. DD
All a brilliant ploy to keep Karl Malone out of LA Seriously. Enough evidence to arrest sounds like a problem. Would you arrest Kobe without evidence? This is gonna get interesting.
correct me if i'm wrong, da da...but wasn't that a civil matter? were irvin and/or williams ever arrested based on her allegations. so far, this woman hasn't talked about money at all...not saying that won't change...but to this point, it's been entirely a criminal investigation. we do not have a civil lawsuit, yet. "yet" being the operative word.
Innocent until proven guilty. Let's not have any knee-jerk reactions, until the details come out. Roxtxia, I agree that if guilty, this incident could further tarnish the NBA's reputation as a league of thugs and criminals.
I don't have any references for this, but... isn't there the "rumor" that Kobe HAD to marry his current wife, when she turned 18, b/c her parents were set to have Kobe arrest for Rape, b/c he was with her before she was 18..that his wife's parents told him that he either marry her, or face Rape/being suing/exposed...etc etc ?
here's some more info from kobe's lawyer and the strange 'mishandling' of the arrest warrant. Sounds fishy on the part of the colorado police. Kobe's Lawyers Says He's Innocent Kobe's attorneys say he's innocent Click to Enlarge Randy Wyrick Eagle County authorities released Los Angeles Laker guard Kobe Bryant on $25,000 bond Friday after they issued a warrant for his arrest, accusing him of felony sexual assault on a 19-year-old woman, the Eagle County Sheriff's Office announced Sunday. Bryant, 24, was in Eagle County last week, reportedly for knee surgery by a local orthopedist, and stayed at The Lodge at Cordillera in Edwards, where the incident allegedy occurred, sources said. Local authorities said the alleged assault occurred Monday, June 30. The allegations of sexual assault were filed with the Eagle County Sheriff's Office Tuesday. Bryant's attorneys and his agent released a written statement in which they asserted Bryant's innocence, and called the Sheriff's office action "biased and unfair." "We are confident that upon the completion of an unbiased investigation, Mr. Bryant will be cleared of any criminal misconduct," said the statement by Bryant's attorneys. "The actions of the Sheriff's Office are biased and unfair." Bryant turned himself in at the sheriff's detention facility in Eagle on Friday and posted a bond of $25,000, authorities said. Sources close to the investigation said physical evidence exists to link Bryant to the allegations. In a Sheriff's Office statement released Sunday, authorities said that after interviews with local witnesses and a review of physical evidence, investigators met with representatives for District Attorney Mark Hurlbert and concluded they had enough evidence for the felony sexual assault count. But Hurlbert told the Vail Daily Sunday night he hadn't made a decision on whether to file charges and had not yet seen the arrest report. "I don't know yet whether I'll file charges," Hurlburt said in a telephone interview from his home. "I need to review the report, review the evidence." While Hurlburt refused to say the Eagle County Sheriff's Office jumped the gun in issuing an arrest warrant for Bryant, he did say Sheriff Joe Hoy and his department did not follow the normal operating procedure. He said the Sheriff's Office asked a judge for an arrest warrant instead of requesting one through his office, the usual practice. Sources close to the investigation also said Bryant is now back in California. Reports of the allegations first arose Tuesday as tips that an investigation was ongoing. Both Eagle County Sheriff Joe Hoy and Hurlburt refused to comment at that time. The Vail Daily decided not to report on the allegations until official action was taken in the case. Judge Russell Granger ordered that the case be sealed to the public, meaning few if any new details would be released. Eagle County authorities said that Bryant was cooperative during the investigation and remains cooperative. In a statement released Sunday night by Bryant's attorneys Harold A. Haddon and Pamela Robillard Mackey, and his agent, Robert Pelinka, they said Bryant is innocent and expects to be completely exonerated. "Mr. Bryant fully cooperated with the investigation by the Eagle County Sheriff's Office," they said in the statement. "No charges have been filed. Although the Sheriff's Office can obtain an arrest warrant, only the District Attorney's Office can file charges. We are hopeful that the investigation will continue with unbiased investigators." Bryant's attorneys said they were assured last Thursday by the District Attorney's Office that the investigation was ongoing and that no action would be taken until today at the earliest. "We were told that the matter was under consideration by the District Attorney's Office but that there was insufficient information to issue a warrant or to file charges," they said. "The District Attorney's Office stated to us that more time was needed to complete and analyze the investigation before any decisions were made." Bryant's attorneys said the District Attorney's Office then notified the Eagle County Sheriff's Office that no action was to be taken on the matter over the holiday weekend. "Contrary to the direct instruction of the District Attorney's Office, the Eagle County Sheriff's Office sought and obtained an arrest warrant for Mr. Bryant," they said in the statement. "This action illustrates the complete bias of the Sheriff's Office, the law enforcement agency charged with investigating the allegations against Mr. Bryant and searching for the truth." Bryant, an NBA All-Star each year since 1998 who helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers to three straight championships from 2000 to 2002, is a leading advertising pitchman nationally, thanks to a squeaky clean image. Attempts to reach Bryant directly for comment were not successful. "These allegations are completely out of character of the Kobe Bryant we know," Los Angeles 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. He was named MVP of the 2002 All-Star Game after getting 31 points. He has the record as being the young All-Star in the NBA. posting 18 points and 6 rebounds in the 1998 game in New York. He also was the youngest player to debut in the NBA, at the age of 18 years, two months and 11 days. As a high school student, he was selected by USA Today and Parade Magazine as National High School Player of the Year. 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report
The only person in the article who said the arrest was mishandled was Bryant's lawyer. I still don't know why articles bother reporting what lawyers say. The warrant was handled in the normal way, but the DA didn't condemn the sheriff for doing it. And, the sheriff did convince a judge to issue it. So, I don't know if this warrant anomaly will really amount to anything.
1. Likely true because the police need "probable cause" to get a search warrant. The standard may be higher for an arrest warrant. I don't do criminal law. 2. You have no idea whether they had sex. Physical evidence could be his hair, a shirt the woman stole, his wallet, or sperm. Whatever. But you don't know what happened. Evidence of semen or hair or whatever is not necessary for the issuance of a warrant. 3. cases sometimes get sealed in rape cases or issues relating to minors. Let's please quit jumping the gun. A lot of folks think that you are probably guilty of something, if not the crime charged, because you put yourself in a position to get investigated. Sometimes that's true, but sometimes its not. Our criminal justice system requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt because in the social contract formed by the people of this country, through our government, we have collectively agreed that we would prefer to let 10 criminals to go free rather than to erroneously take away someone's liberty, throw them in jail and brand them a criminal for life . The erroneous conviction of a person, and the threat thereof, is a greater danger to the validity of our government and society than the erroneous exoneration of the guilty.
Are you a moron? I never said that Kobe Bryant was guilty. I couldn't care less if he is or is not. All I said is that that her story has to be atleast possible for Kobe to be arrested. We are not even sure what he did. My outrageous "declarations"? I never said he was guilty...... learn how to comprehend what you read
"Well, to me it would mean that you're a liar. You've seen it twice. Once with Laura -- oops -- and once with me and Dick remember? We had that conversation about that guy making Beretta shotgun ammo off-screen in the 14th century."
