Kobe Arrives at Eagle County Courthouse

NBA star and accused rapist in Colorado for scheduled preliminary hearing; lawyers may decide to go straight to trial

Bryant defense weighing options before preliminary hearing

EAGLE, Colo. -- Kobe Bryant's legal team is faced with a choice -- go forward with a preliminary hearing that could expose damaging evidence against the NBA superstar, or proceed straight to trial.

The hearing was scheduled for Thursday to determine whether there was enough evidence to justify a trial. Prosecutors planned to have a sheriff's detective describe details of what allegedly happened between Bryant and a 19-year-old woman who says Bryant sexually assaulted her June 30 at a nearby mountain resort.

Legal analysts speculated that defense attorneys Hal Haddon and Pamela Mackey would waive the 3 p.m. EDT hearing because they have no chance of winning it, and little chance of learning more than they already know.

By waiving the hearing, a decision that Bryant's attorneys could announce at the last minute, they also would avoid the disclosure of details until trial.

"From a public relations standpoint, that type of evidence would most likely be very damaging to Kobe Bryant's reputation," said Karen Steinhauser, a former prosecutor and a University of Denver law school professor.

Either way, security for the hearing was bolstered after dozens of threats were made against the prosecutor, the judge and Bryant's accuser. Two metal detectors were in place and armed guards were prepared to stand watch.

Eagle County Judge Frederick Gannett has acknowledged receiving letters containing death threats, and two men have been charged with threatening Bryant's accuser.

Patrick Graber pleaded innocent in Los Angeles to charges he approached Bryant's security team with an offer to kill the woman for $3 million. An Iowa college student has pleaded innocent to leaving a death threat on her answering machine.

Bryant has said he and the woman had consensual sex. The case against him could lead to a celebrity trial the likes of which have not been seen since O.J. Simpson was acquitted of murder charges eight years ago.

Since Monday, about 300 television, print and radio reporters and camera crews have been arriving, filling motel rooms and parking TV satellite trucks in a vacant lot across from the courthouse that normally is a lumber dealer's back yard.

Bryant, free on $25,000 bond, left the Los Angeles Lakers' Hawaii training camp on Wednesday to travel to Colorado.

He made an initial court appearance on Aug. 6 where he said just two words: "No, sir," when Gannett asked if he objected to giving up his right to have a preliminary hearing within 30 days.

Bryant was ordered to appear for a bail hearing regardless of whether his lawyers waive the preliminary hearing. And there is a possibility he could enter a plea during an arraignment before another judge.

Two judges were on notice they might be called to preside over an arraignment if the defense asks, state courts spokeswoman Karen Salaz said. By agreeing to an immediate arraignment, Bryant would not have to return to Eagle again in the next 30 days to answer the charge.

Under Colorado law, he must be arraigned within 30 days of the preliminary hearing or the decision to waive the hearing. After that, he is guaranteed the right to go to trial within six months, but he could waive that right as well.