Kobe Bryant arrested

From ESPN.com. . .

EAGLE, Colo. -- Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant has posted a $25,000 bond in Eagle on a felony count of sexual assault and has been released, according to the Eagle County sheriff's office.

In a statement Sunday, authorities said the warrant was issued after deputies investigated a report made Tuesday claiming sexual misconduct by Bryant.

The report said the incident happened in a hotel in the Edwards area of Eagle County that night.

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 statement said.

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

Bryant turned himself in at the sheriff's detention facility in Eagle on Friday and posted a bond of $25,000, authorities said.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak issued a statement expressing surprise.

"These allegations are completely out of character of the Kobe Bryant we know," it said. "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."

Few details are being released after an order by Judge Russell Granger that the case would be sealed to the public.

Public Information Officer Kim Andree said the fax would be the only statement made available from the sheriff's office at this point.

Bryant, a guard, averaged 26.6 points and 5.8 assists in four games in the NBA Finals against the New Jersey Nets in 2002, and he was picked to the 2001-02 All-NBA First Team, according to the Lakers.

The 24-year-old 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.

He married in April 2001 and he and his wife had their first child, a daughter, in January.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

wow.. this is very unlike kobe to do something like this.. what do you think?

This is a very surprising development. Kobe's always been known as a clean kid but this definitly hurts his reputation, no matter how this situation develops. This really reminds me of what happened with Marv Albert in 97 and how one little thing escalated into a huge mess. As much as I dislike Kobe, I hope this thing doesn't develop into the kind of fiasco that Marv Albert had to go through.

Ouch, that's really going to hurt his image, here come the comparisons to Michael, "Jordan never did that kind of thing..." That was really stupid of Kobe, he had a really good image going and as good as he is he had alot goin ' for him, and this definetly won't help his fan base, I mean all the teams would still take him if they could cause he's so good, but I don't know about all his fans...

She might just be lying though...we'll see, it still hurts his image either way. Just not as much if everyone finds out this lady was just lookin for a payday.

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 statement said.

Well they have evidence, and he did turn himself in.
Wonder if the league is going to suspend him if he does get convicted...
Either way, it's Kobe Bryant's business, it doesn't make him any less of a basketball player.

for Kobe... I doubt if this really happened, though.

Wow, I'm shocked that Kobe would do something like this. He is 1 of the few good-guys in the NBA. You never hear anything about drugs or any of that stuff when you talk about Kobe. Maybe he changed after he saw how it felt to lose in the playoffs after 3 straight years of winning.

If he is convicted of this crime he is ruined.

But if the facts show she is a gold digger, than it will fade away.

I really do not believe him turning himself in indicates guilt.

He simply does what you should do to avoid further trouble.

What should he have done, ran away???

I do not anyone to clear anything up, I live in the greater Los Angeles area and I have heard the story told 100 different ways, three hundred times.

In the USA it's innocent until proven guilty, I leave it at that until there is a resolution to the matter.

Of course he will be suspended if he is convicted, see Glenn Robinson's case. Also he could some jail time.

I do not care for Kobe much really, around here it's all about Kobe and Shaq and nothing else involving basketball.

I still hope the whole thing is bogus, the league is a better place ultra talents such as Kobe Bryant. Remember he's 24 and that's not that old for his money and fame.

Either way, it's Kobe Bryant's business, it doesn't make him any less of a basketball player.

Agreed. Like Michael Jordan's marital problems, it has nothing to do with how good a player Kobe is. It's not something you'd expect from him, but I think it would be appropriate to wait for more details before tearing his image apart. Mind you, I'd be very surprised if the sportswriters left this issue alone.

I really do not believe him turning himself in indicates guilt.

He simply does what you should do to avoid further trouble.

What should he have done, ran away???

I agree. He's not a fool - it would only make things worse if he didn't co-operate.

hey man, you can fuck a girl and she wants to do it, then if she felt like it she could just say sum shit like that and BANG, your in the shit.

kobe bryant a raper i dont think so.it is not true!!!

Ouch, that's really going to hurt his image, here come the comparisons to Michael, "Jordan never did that kind of thing..."

But...he somewhat did?

I really do not believe him turning himself in indicates guilt.

He simply does what you should do to avoid further trouble.

What should he have done, ran away???

I agree. He's not a fool - it would only make things worse if he didn't co-operate.

i also agree, and i highly doubt kobe would do something like this why would he sexual assualt someone when he has his wife. dam she is hot

i also agree, and i highly doubt kobe would do something like this why would he sexual assualt someone when he has his wife. dam she is hot

nah Kidd's wife is hotter..

Y'all are forgettin' Christina Rice, Glen Rice's better half.

No charges filed against Bryant yet.

Sorry if the story has been posted already

I personally do not think Mr. Braynt could commit such a crime, but time will tell.

wez312 wrote:
Ouch, that's really going to hurt his image, here come the comparisons to Michael, "Jordan never did that kind of thing..."

But...he somewhat did?

what, sexual assault?

I'm lost for words, and don't know what to say? This is unbelievable...

Yes, really unbelievable, it really amazing that some good guys in the NBA are getting involved in crime charges, really sad

what, sexual assault?

Dude, don't you remember? MJ fucked detroit up the ass and stole their dynasty away, and then they complained about the officiating, and complained. I can see the similarities

Dude, don't you remember? MJ fucked detroit up the ass and stole their dynasty away, and then they complained about the officiating, and complained. I can see the similarities

ooohhh yeaaahhhh... forgot about that sexual assault!

this kind of thing doesn't surprise me anymore.. so whut if its kobe, the "clean" kid.. with all thats happenin these days, u can't be too sure about anythin anymore..

even if bryant is found not guilty of any of charges made on him, he will still come out as a loser- the press is going to blow this whole thing out of proportion. and still there will be a fair amount of people who think he is guilty.
too bad bryant won't get retribution if he's found innocent...

In the USA it's innocent until proven guilty, I leave it at that until there is a resolution to the matter.

yes that goes for civilians, but if your famous, it's the other way around.

even if bryant is found not guilty of any of charges made on him, he will still come out as a loser- the press is going to blow this whole thing out of proportion. and still there will be a fair amount of people who think he is guilty.
too bad bryant won't get retribution if he's found innocent...

I don't know if it's gonna be a big issue, like poeple have said, kobe's being smart about it and not making a fuss; in a few months it's gonna be forgotten and over witt, unless Kbe starts pleading innocent and he takes it to the press fisrt, but if he stays silent what can the press do? They can publish 1 or 2 articles, and then what?...

True their will be haters who think he is guilty, but who cares? they always been around, and always will be.

My thought on the matter, I think he's innocent, but maybe not. Maybe he did something small to her like shake her hand and kiss it, or something like that, and then the bitch yelled rape. Who knows, but why would a superstar like Kobe Bryant, who could screw 5 girls a night if he wanted to, have to sexually assault someone?

the press is going to blow this whole thing out of proportion.

There'll probably be a wave of "Kobe, say it ain't so" columns for a while. If the allegations are false and nothing comes of the charges, I don't think it will completely destroy his image - it would be an unpleasant paragraph in his biography, but if there's no scandal his reputation would not be seriously damaged.