New England

Prosecutors File Appeal to Permit Video Evidence in Robert Kraft Case

The New England Patriots owner pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of solicitation after he allegedly paid for sex acts at an illicit massage parlor in Florida

Prosecutors in Florida filed an appeal late Tuesday to challenge a judge's decision to toss out video evidence that allegedly shows New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft paying for sex acts at an illicit massage parlor in Jupiter.

The move came after Palm Beach County Judge Leonard Hanser ruled in May that all videos in Kraft’s solicitation case must be suppressed. In his 10-page ruling, Hanser wrote that detectives and the judge who approved the secret installation of cameras that captured Kraft’s alleged solicitation at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa didn’t do enough to minimize the invasion of privacy to other guests.

Prosecutors argued in the appeal that Kraft should only be entitled to suppress video that was obtained unlawfully, claiming to have legally obtained evidence of Kraft's alleged offenses.  

Kraft was among the two dozen men who were charged following a multi-county crackdown on human trafficking in South Florida.

Prosecutors alleged that Kraft visited the illicit spa two times in January. He allegedly visited the Orchids of Asia just hours before flying to Kansas City to see the Pats play in the AFC Championship Game.

Kraft, who has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor solicitation charges, issued a public apology to fans in March. 

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