Security concerns have caused Eagle County officials to schedule Kobe Bryant's first court appearance late in the day Wednesday.

The basketball star will be advised at a 4 p.m. hearing that he is charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year old Eagle woman.

Karen Salaz, spokeswoman for the state court administrators' office, said Saturday that the decision to hold the hearing late in the day was made by District Court administrator Chris Yuhas and the Eagle County Sheriff's Department.

The 4 p.m. hearing will allow other court business to be concluded before Bryant is to appear, Salaz said. Salaz said the time was also chosen because the Sheriff's Department wants to do a security sweep of the courthouse before Bryant's advisement.

Security has become an extreme concern in recent days because of threats to the Eagle County District Attorney's Office. It was Eagle County DA Mark Hurlbert who filed the case against Bryant.