Patriots Owner Dodges Solicitation Charges
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft faced charges of soliciting prostitution as part of a large-scale sex trafficking crackdown that led to hundreds of arrest warrants in Florida. The 77-year-old billionaire was among more than 100 people linked to several central Florida day spas and massage parlors suspected of being used for prostitution.
Although police said Kraft visited the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida, twice and video footage showed him receiving “paid acts” in a room at the spa, a spokesperson for Kraft denied that he committed a crime.
“We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further,” the spokesperson said.
However, as Kraft was a first-time offender, he has been offered pre-trial diversion deals that would ultimately lead to the dismissal of solicitation charges, a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday. Prosecutors proposed that the men review the evidence and admit they would be found guilty if the case went to trial.
“All defendants in that investigation that have been charged with misdemeanors receive a comparable plea offer,” Michael Edmondson, state attorney’s spokesman told The Wall Street Journal. It is unclear whether Kraft will accept the agreement.
The proposed deferred prosecution deal does come with conditions: completion of an education course about prostitution, 100 hours of community service, screening for sexually transmitted diseases, and payment of some court costs.
By: Maytinee Kramer
