Kobe Bryant has officially been charged with sexual assault.
Conviction means 4 years to life in prison.
Specifically, the charge is one count of sexual assault
- a class 3 felony - amounting to felony rape.
"This did not come easily," said Eagle County
District Attorney Mark Hurlbert. "This decision came only after reviewing
all of the evidence."
When asked to get very specific about the accusation against
Kobe, Hurlbert said: "It is alleged he caused sexual penetration or intrusion
... through actual physical force."
Kobe does admit to cheating on his wife. But he absolutely
denies the charges against him.
"I am innocent of the charges filed today. I did
not assault the woman who is accusing me," Bryant said in a released 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."
The woman making the accusation is a 19-year-old employee
of the La Cordillera Resort & Spa.
Bryant is free on $25,000 bail, and must return to court
in Eagle County, Colorado on August 6 for a hearing.
Almost 25 years old, Kobe is married and has a six-month-old
daughter.
Friday night, a few hours after it was announced that
he was being charged, Kobe held his own press conference, emotionally pointing
out that he's innocent of the charges. Vanessa Laine, Kobe's wife, sat by his side,
comforting him and looking straight at him for virtually the entire session.
"I'm furious at myself, disgusted at myself for making
a mistake of adultery," Bryant said.
"I didn't force her to do anything against her will,"
Bryant said. "I'm innocent."
"Kobe Bryant will plead not guilty," said Bryant
lawyer Pamela Mackey. "We are confident that a fair and impartial jury will
find Kobe Bryant innocent."
"I do not believe the charges should have been filed
in this case," Mackey said. "The evidence does not support it."
The NBA is keeping out of this, as it is a legal matter
beyond their scope. "As with all allegations of a criminal nature, the NBA's
policy is to await the outcome of a judicial proceeding before taking any action,"
NBA commissioner David Stern said. "We do not anticipate making further comments
during the pendency of the judicial process."
