The night he arrived, June 30, was the night of the alleged assault. By the end of that week he was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault. The formal charges were announced two weeks later by Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert: "Kobe Bean Bryant is charged with Class Three sexual assault."
The same day, Bryant issued a statement admitting adultery-- but denying any sexual assault. Later, at an emotional news conference, Bryant said, "I'm innocent . I sit here in front of you guys, furious at myself, you know, disgusted at myself for making a mistake of adultery. I love my wife with all my heart. She's my backbone."
Now Bryant's legal future has seemingly endless -- and ominous -- possibilities.
A preliminary hearing -- where some evidence could be made public -- could come in the weeks ahead. A request for such a hearing could be made today, according to former Colorado Assistant Attorney General David Lugert. "Today you may see both the defense and the government, in writing, request a preliminary hearing," he says.
If a trial is held, it could be months -- possibly even a year -- away.
Lugert says if Bryant is convicted on the charge filed against him, the judge has two options for sentencing: Probation -- the minimum would be 20 years -- or what the judge would call an 'indeterminate' number of years in prison.
Lawyers say that could be from four years to life.
After sentencing, the judge would be out of the process.
The actual sentence served would be determined by the state probation department or the parole board -- and Bryant himself.
After serving a minimum sentence, Lugert says, a convicted sex offender has to prove he's progressed in treatment and is no longer a threat to the community.
Under Colorado law, whether he gets probation or prison, the offender has to undergo genetic testing and have his DNA placed in a nationwide database. He has to register as a sex offender, reporting at least once a year to local law enforcement, and report any change of address within 30 days. At any time he could be legally required to take a polygraph and a test that measures sexual arousal patterns.
Some experts argue Colorado's laws are too invasive. Others say they at least give convicted sex offenders a chance to legally redeem themselves.
Today on "Wolf Blitzer Reports," we'll bring you the latest developments in all the day's top stories. NBA all-star Kobe Bryant will make his first appearance in an Eagle County, Colorado, court today in connection with the sexual assault charges against him. We'll take you inside the courtroom where the charges will be read and outside where a media circus has descended on the small town. We'll also be joined famed attorney Robert Shapiro for a look at the legal battle ahead.
A classified warning issued by the Pentagon before yesterday's explosion in Jakarta indicated that a "suicide attack was in the final planning stages" in Indonesia, according to a Pentagon official. Could this information have been used to prevent the bombing? We'll have a report.
An advance force of U.S. military advisers arrived in Liberia today to meet with the Nigerian peacekeepers who arrived this week. In the war-torn capital, both rebel and military guns have fallen silent and civilians have emerged from hiding to find food and water. Will the calm last? We'll go to Monrovia for the latest details.
Hormone replacement therapy was supposed to prevent heart disease. But a new study concludes the treatment may have the opposite effect on patients. We'll have the story.
Please join us today and every weekday at 5 p.m. ET as well as at noon ET for all the day's top news.
