LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) - A California man has been charged with repeatedly threatening to kill Kobe Bryant's accuser and the prosecutor in the sexual assault case.
Cedric Vaughn Augustine was arrested by police and federal agents Thursday, and was held without bail in the city jail, police said.
Augustine, 37, was charged Wednesday in a Denver federal grand jury indictment with 26 counts of attempted extortion, making interstate threats, making a threat using the U.S. mail and threats to use fire or explosives, FBI spokesman Matt McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin said authorities hope the investigation will "dissuade others from similar behaviour." Two other men previously were charged with making threats against Bryant's accuser.
Federal authorities contend Augustine called Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert on July 18, the day Bryant was charged with sexual assault. Augustine allegedly left a message on an answering machine saying: "Anything happens to Kobe, something will happen to you. . . . We will hunt you down."
The next day, prosecutors said, Augustine threatened in a telephone message to shoot Bryant's accuser. More threats were made in September and October, the indictment said, including a letter sent to the prosecutor Sept. 18 that stated: "We are coming to kill her and her family."
John Roche Jr., a former student at the University of Iowa, pleaded guilty to leaving a profanity-laced death threat in July on the accuser's answering machine. Roche faces up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 US fine.
In another case, Swiss national Patrick Graber is accused of offering to kill Bryant's accuser for $3 million. He remains in custody awaiting trial.
Bryant, 25, is accused of raping a 19-year-old woman who worked at a hotel near Vail, Colo., where he stayed June 30. He faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation if convicted.
Bryant has said he had consensual sex with the woman. No trial date has been set.
http://www.canada.com
Cedric Vaughn Augustine was arrested by police and federal agents Thursday, and was held without bail in the city jail, police said.
Augustine, 37, was charged Wednesday in a Denver federal grand jury indictment with 26 counts of attempted extortion, making interstate threats, making a threat using the U.S. mail and threats to use fire or explosives, FBI spokesman Matt McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin said authorities hope the investigation will "dissuade others from similar behaviour." Two other men previously were charged with making threats against Bryant's accuser.
Federal authorities contend Augustine called Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert on July 18, the day Bryant was charged with sexual assault. Augustine allegedly left a message on an answering machine saying: "Anything happens to Kobe, something will happen to you. . . . We will hunt you down."
The next day, prosecutors said, Augustine threatened in a telephone message to shoot Bryant's accuser. More threats were made in September and October, the indictment said, including a letter sent to the prosecutor Sept. 18 that stated: "We are coming to kill her and her family."
John Roche Jr., a former student at the University of Iowa, pleaded guilty to leaving a profanity-laced death threat in July on the accuser's answering machine. Roche faces up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 US fine.
In another case, Swiss national Patrick Graber is accused of offering to kill Bryant's accuser for $3 million. He remains in custody awaiting trial.
Bryant, 25, is accused of raping a 19-year-old woman who worked at a hotel near Vail, Colo., where he stayed June 30. He faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation if convicted.
Bryant has said he had consensual sex with the woman. No trial date has been set.
http://www.canada.com
