Patrick Graber, 31 (pictured, left), also was charged with solicitation to dissuade a witness, the district attorney's office said. Prosecutors recommended bail be kept at $1 million.

Graber appeared before Superior Court Judge Paula Adele Mabrey at the Airport Branch courthouse but his arraignment was continued to Sept. 29. He said only "Yes," when the prosecutor asked if he agreed to the delay. No plea was entered and he remained in custody.

If convicted of the two felonies, Graber would face up to nine years and eight months in state prison, the district attorney's office said.

Defense attorney Peter Knecht said he needed time to work on a bail motion and a response to a motion by the prosecution seeking a hearing to determine the source of any bail money. Knecht said he also needed time to see evidence.

Asked why he wants a hearing on the source of any bail, Deputy District Attorney Ralph Shapiro said, "In this particular case you want to be certain that bail comes from an appropriate source."

Graber's wife, Gilliane, was present in court. Knecht said she is a U.S. citizen.

Outside court, Knecht described his client as "a little bit naive and not very swift."

"He is not the most intelligent guy in the world," the attorney said.

Authorities identified Graber as a Swiss national with an expired visa who worked as a bodybuilding coach at a local gym.

Knecht said Graber came to the United States two years ago hoping to become an actor, but was working as a trainer and recently was certified as a helicopter pilot.

Graber's visa expired two weeks ago and he has immigration attorneys working on that, Knecht said.

"This just blew him away," Knecht said of the criminal case. "He didn't think he was doing something this important."

Graber was arrested Thursday in suburban El Segundo by undercover sheriff's investigators who had met with him previously and set up a sting in a supermarket parking lot. Detectives said Graber wanted $3 million to carry out the plan and had arranged to pick up a $1 million payment.

The investigation began Sept. 8 when Bryant's security staff reported receiving a letter offering to solve the basketball player's problem. The letter was signed "Yuri." Investigators said Graber claimed to have ties to Russian organized crime.

Knecht dismissed that allegation as "ridiculous" and asserted that "this is unorganized crime, not organized crime."

The letter was sent via FedEx and investigators traced it to Graber, Knecht said, describing its message as "I can solve your problems, call me."

The defense attorney said it would be hard for prosecutors to prove that Graber had the intent and means to carry out a crime. He noted that Graber has one prior conviction, for fraud, in Switzerland.

The two-count filing Monday was narrower than what the district attorney's office described last week. On Friday the prosecutor's office said it planned to file an eight-count case.

"I think these are the appropriate charges," Shapiro said Monday.

Graber is the second man arrested in connection with the case.

John Roche, of Iowa City, Iowa, is awaiting trial in federal court in Denver after pleading innocent this month to leaving a profanity-laced death threat on the accuser's answering machine in Eagle, Colo. He remains free on a $250,000 unsecured bond.

Bryant's accuser has since moved from Eagle to an undisclosed location in Colorado.

Previous Stories:

• September 22, 2003: Judge In Bryant Case Weighing Key Decisions As Preliminary Hearing Nears
• September 19, 2003: Bizarre Twist in Kobe Bryant Case, $3-Millon Murder for Hire Plot
• September 16, 2003: Legal Web Site Publishes Bryant Accuser's Name, Address
• September 12, 2003: Kobe Bryant Attorneys Want Closed Hearing
• September 10, 2003: New Details In Kobe Bryant Case Released
• September 9, 2003: Attorneys Want Kobe's Accuser To Testify At Prelim
• September 8, 2003: Judge In Bryant Case Won't Permit Courtroom Cameras
• September 5, 2003: Kobe's Lawyers Seeking More Of Accuser's Medical Records
• September 3, 2003: Handful Of Records In Kobe Bryant Case Released
• September 2, 2003: Bryant's Attorneys Ask For Accuser's Medical Records
• September 2, 2003: Probe Of Bryant Leaks Looks Into Court Workers, Prosecutors
• August 30, 2003: Race Coloring People's View Of Bryant's Case
• August 29, 2003: Judge's Ruling On Sealed Records In Bryant Case To Be Appealed
• August 28, 2003: Prosecutors Won't Oppose Records Release In Bryant Rape Case
• August 26, 2003: Bryant's Accuser Not Returning To UNC; Prosecutor Opposes Courtroom Cameras
• August 23, 2003: Bryant Attorney Denies Settlement Rumors
• August 22, 2003: Deal May Be In Works In Kobe Case
• August 22, 2003: Death Threat Against Bryant's Accuser Results In Arrest
• August 20, 2003: Kobe Bryant Court Records Could Be Opened Soon
• August 19, 2003: Public Sounds Off On Kobe Bryant Case
• August 19, 2003: Eagle County Residents Polled About Kobe Case
• August 15, 2003: Judge With Little Experience Could Get Bryant Case
• August 12, 2003: Racist Fliers Found On Eagle County Doors
• August 6, 2003: Bryant Hearing Set For Oct. 9
• August 5, 2003: Cuban Chastised By NBA Commissioner For Kobe Comments
• August 5, 2003: Eagle Prepares For Kobe Bryant Media Onslaught
• August 5, 2003: Since Charges, Bryant On Losing Streak
• August 4, 2003: Kobe Accuser's Alleged Problems May Not Be Considered
• August 4, 2003: Judge Nixes Bryant's Request To Bar Cameras
• August 3, 2003: Kobe Bryant Gets Teen Award
• August 1, 2003: Report: Investigator In Bryant Case Named In Racial Profiling Lawsuit
• July 31, 2003: Judge Rejects Kobe Request Not To Attend Hearing
• July 30, 2003: Report: Bryant Deceived Investigators About Alleged Rape
• July 30, 2003: Woman Pictured As Kobe's Accuser Speaks Out
• July 29, 2003: Court Web Site To Devote Page To Kobe's Case
• July 28, 2003: Will 911 Call From Kobe's Accuser Be Released?
• July 27, 2003: Bryant Prosecutor Getting Threats
• July 26, 2003: Cameras Allowed In Courtroom For Kobe Bryant Hearing
• July 25, 2003: Tabloid Publishes Purported Photo Of Bryant Accuser
• July 25, 2003: Scrutiny Of Kobe Bryant's Accuser Intensifies
• July 25, 2003: Bryant's Accuser Previously Called 'Danger To Self'
• July 24, 2003: Family Of Woman Pictured In Kobe Bryant Case Hires Lawyer
• July 24, 2003: Kobe's Defense Team Familiar With High Profile Cases
• July 24, 2003: Radio Host Reveals Name Of Bryant Accuser
• July 23, 2003: Friend Says Kobe's Accuser 'Felt Chemistry' With NBA Star
• July 22, 2003: Eagle Teen Offered $12,500 For Kobe Bryant Story
• July 21, 2003: Report: Kobe's Accuser Had Recent Overdose
• July 18, 2003: Kobe Bryant Maintains Innocence After Charges
• July 18, 2003: DA To Announce Kobe Bryant Decision This Afternoon
• July 17, 2003: Decision In Kobe Bryant Case To Be Announced Friday
• July 15, 2003: State Crime Lab Working On Kobe Bryant Case
• July 14, 2003: Bryant Tells Paper He's Innocent
• July 14, 2003: Friends Of Kobe Bryant Accuser Go On National TV
• July 12, 2003: Kobe Bryant's Accuser Had Tried Out For 'American Idol'
• July 10, 2003: Prosecutors: Decision In Bryant Case Won't Come This Week
• July 9, 2003: Sheriff Concerned About Pressure On Kobe Bryant's Accuser
• July 9, 2003: Taxi Driver Says NBA Star Was At Hospital After Assault Claim
• July 7, 2003: D.A.: No Decision On Charges Against NBA's Bryant
• July 7, 2003: Kobe Bryant Arrested For Alleged Sexual Assault