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09-01-2003, 11:53 PM
Monday, September 1, 2003




Associated Press
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EAGLE, Colo. -- The man leading an investigation into alleged leaks in the Kobe Bryant case said the probe isn't being limited to the Eagle County sheriff's office.

Pitkin County, Colo., Sheriff Bob Braudis said as many as 14 employees of the Eagle County Sheriff's Office have been interviewed as part of the investigation, but prosecutors, court clerks and others with access to case files are also being questioned.

Eagle County Sheriff Joe Hoy was among those interviewed by Pitkin County sheriff's investigators.

The investigation will wrap up Sept. 15.

Eagle County Judge Frederick Gannett had asked for the investigation on Aug. 6 after receiving a request from Bryant's attorneys. The lawyers were dismayed by news reports that quoted anonymous sources describing injuries to Bryant's accuser and the amount of time she spent in his hotel room. Reports leaked to the media also said Bryant gave inconsistent statements to law enforcement officials.

Bryant is charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old employee at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, a resort in nearby Edwards, on June 30. Bryant claims the sex was consensual.

After Bryant's initial court hearing earlier on Aug. 6, the judge said he had called Pitkin County officials after meeting with District Attorney Mark Hurlbert and defense attorney Hal Haddon.

"One of the things we've tried to do in this is systematically and quickly address every issue," Gannett said at the time. He said he sought out Pitkin County officials because he wanted an investigating agency that is "local, had the resources, skills and training."

Eagle County sheriff's spokeswoman Kim Andree said at the time the investigation was ordered that officials reviewed the comments attributed to law enforcement officials and determined they were not made by sheriff's office employees.

Making such comments would be grounds for firing, she said.

Krista Flannigan, a spokeswoman for the prosecution, said at the time that there had been no internal probe in Hurlbert's office to determine if it was the source of the leaks.

"The district attorney believes he has a very professional staff with a lot of integrity, so there has not been any need to do that," she said.

link (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1607060)