PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Attorneys for New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft will return to court Wednesday morning to ask a judge to block surveillance video from being admitted as evidence at trial.
At a hearing Tuesday, Kraft's defense team questioned several key witnesses in his prostitution case, including Jupiter police Detective Andrew Sharp, as well as Inspector Karen Herzog from the Florida Department of Health.
The hearing will pick back up again on Wednesday morning at 9:15 a.m., and Judge Leonard Hanser is aiming for it to be wrapped up by noon.
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Judge Hanser said at a hearing last Friday he wants to watch the video recordings of Kraft in a private massage room at Orchids of Asia Day Spa before issuing a ruling.
Last month, Kraft's legal team filed a motion, calling the video evidence "fruits of an unlawful 'sneak-and-peek' search warrant that the town of Jupiter Police Department used to spy on Mr. Kraft."
READ THE MOTION:
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Jupiter police said Kraft, who's pleaded not guilty, was recorded receiving an illegal sex act from 58-year-old Shen Mingbi at the spa on Jan. 19. Afterward, he paid her and another spa worker, 39-year-old Lei Wang, in cash, according to police.
Last week, Judge Hanser ruled the surveillance video cannot be released to the public, at least for now.
Kraft is facing charges of soliciting another to commit prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a $5,000 penalty, and a mandatory 100 hours of community service.
In February, Martin County Sheriff William Snyder announced the results of an eight-month investigation, which he said uncovered prostitution operations at five day spas from Jupiter to Hobe Sound.
According to Sheriff Snyder, the spas involved were:
- Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter
- Cove Day Spa in Stuart
- Therapy Spa in Stuart
- Bridge Day Spa in Hobe Sound
- Sequoia Apple Day Spa in Hobe Sound
This is a developing story. Stay with WPTV for updates.
