Originally posted by Krangthebrain
Either there is serious misreporting, or you are making what he did seem less. It has been reported that he is under investigation for "sexual assault" which is much worse than "physical contact" or "an unwanted advance".
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2003/07/08/bryant_accuser_ap/
Look about 9 paragraphs down. I have read this in a lot of the stories. This is just the last one I read. Trust me I am not discounting the seriousness of this, I am just going by what I have read in MANY stories about the incedent.
Bryant's accuser a teen from Colorado
Posted: Tuesday July 08, 2003 2:19 PM
EAGLE, Colo. (AP) -- The sexual assault allegations against Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant were made by a 19-year-old Colorado woman, authorities said Tuesday.
Eagle County Sheriff Joe Hoy confirmed the woman's age but refused to discuss other details of the case. He said the alleged victim has left on vacation with her family.
"She's a local girl," Hoy said.
The sheriff's office has accused the 24-year-old NBA superstar of felony sexual assault, and Hoy said investigators have sent unspecified evidence to the state Bureau of Investigation for analysis.
Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert said he is reviewing the merits of the case submitted by the sheriff's office and could make a decision on whether to file charges against Bryant within the next week.
"Sometimes it takes a while to get through everything," Hurlbert said Monday. "It may be beyond the end of the week."
He said Bryant might not be charged at all, but refused to discuss details of the allegations against the five-time NBA All-Star.
According to an arrest warrant, Bryant attacked the woman June 30 at a hotel near Vail. Officials at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in nearby Edwards have confirmed Bryant stayed there June 30-July 2.
Under Colorado law, sexual assault could range from fondling to rape. Bryant's lawyer, Pamela Mackey, said her client is innocent and expects to be completely exonerated.
Bryant surrendered to authorities Friday and was released an hour later after posting $25,000 bond. Mackey said her client had been in Colorado for surgery on his right knee at Vail's Steadman Hawkins Clinic.
The accusations against one of the NBA's biggest stars made headlines nationwide and stunned the sports world. Dozens of reporters and camera crews have descended on this mountain town about 100 miles west of Denver.
Since entering the NBA straight from high school, Bryant has drawn comparisons to the league's greatest players. He was married in 2001 and became a father earlier this year.
Mackey accused the sheriff's office of "complete bias," saying it ignored the wishes of the district attorney in obtaining the arrest warrant.
"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," she said in a statement.
Mackey did not return calls seeking elaboration. Hurlbert refused to address Mackey's claims.
"What's done is done," said Hurlbert, standing a few feet away from Hoy, whose office is leading the investigation. "I'm not going to comment on whether it was prudent or not. A judge found probable cause."
The sheriff's office sought the arrest warrant from a judge instead of making the request through the district attorney, which is the usual practice. Only the district attorney's office can file charges.
Hoy said his investigators learned of the case July 1 and spent nearly 30 hours on the case before contacting Bryant. Defense attorneys were notified on July 3 and Bryant returned to Colorado the next day, sheriff's spokeswoman Kim Andree said.
"There wasn't any urgency. We felt we were doing the right thing for everyone involved," Hoy said. "We wanted to give people the time to themselves to adjust" because of the holiday.
Hurlbert said he talked to the woman, who "seems to be doing OK considering the circumstances."
The sheriff said it was "mindboggling" how the case had exploded in the media.
"To me, the sad part is if this hadn't been who it involved, this wouldn't even be a blip on anyone's radar screen," he said. "Personally, I think they're focusing on our suspect rather than on the victim."
The case against Bryant unfolded as details of two other NBA players' legal troubles were released.
Orlando Magic guard Darrell Armstrong was arrested after being accused of fighting with a female police officer outside a Florida nightclub, and Portland Trail Blazers' Damon Stoudamire was accused of trying to pass through an airport metal detector with marijuana.