Kraft spa solicitation case hits more obstacles

Prosecution of the sting at the Florida spa where New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is accused of soliciting prostitution hit yet another another roadblock when a judge suppressed surveillance videos in the cases against the alleged madam and masseuse.

Palm Beach County Judge Joseph Marx ruled Monday that prosecutors can’t use the more than 100 hours of video evidence shot in the Orchids of Asia spa in Jupiter, Fla., because cops didn’t take enough steps to “minimize” the privacy violations that came from the covert cameras they set up in the spa in January.

Marx already had sealed the 100 hours of video footage cops say they took inside and outside the business in the felony prosecution of spa owner Hua Zhang and therapist Lei Wang.

The highest-profile defendant of the dozens charged in the sting was Kraft, the 77year-old billionaire owner of the Patriots. Kraft is fighting misdemeanor charges of soliciting prostitution by patronizing Orchids of Asia twice in January, on the weekend of the Patriots’ AFC Championship victory.

Kraft, who has a condo in tony Palm Beach, pleaded not guilty earlier this year to the charges. He later issued a public apology, saying, “I know I have hurt and disappointed my family, my close friends, my co-workers, our fans and many others who rightfully hold me to a higher standard.”

Kraft’s lawyers insist that the various pieces of evidence prosecutors say they have — video surveillance and a traffic stop — were obtained illegally and therefore isn’t admissible in court. Kraft’s lawyers have fought to keep the video from being released, and a different judge has moved to keep the video from being released and also has suppressed its use in the trial against Kraft.

Prosecutors have appealed that ruling. A hearing — with Kraft’s presence required — had been scheduled for Monday, but that was scuttled as prosecutors sought more time to respond to the ruling.

Legal experts have said the various cases brought by the state prosecutor will be in legal jeopardy if the videos can’t be used.

NANCY LANE / HERALD STAFF FILE INADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE: New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, right, is still battling charges of soliciting prostitution at a Jupter, Fla. spa from an arrest in February, but a ruling Monday in a related case works in his favor.