Charges are dropped against Robert Kraft
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been cleared of a misdemeanor charge of solicitation of prostitution after Florida courts blocked the usage of key videos in the case.
On Thursday, Palm Beach State Attorney Dave Aronberg said in a press conference that 25 defendants, including Kraft, will have their misdemeanor charges dropped. He and the others were charged in February 2019 with soliciting to commit prostitution during visits at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter.
Last month, the Fourth District Court of Appeal upheld the decision of a Palm Beach County judge, who last year ruled that hidden surveillance cameras used by Jupiter police infringed on the rights of other clients, who were breaking no laws and who expected privacy while receiving massages.
The original ruling went on to say that even though detectives had a search warrant, they did not explain how they would “minimize” the intrusion on innocent people.
The Fourth District Court of Appeal blocked the use of the video footage at trial.
Aronberg said without the videos the prosecution can not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that prostitution and sex acts occurred.
“The appellate court decision was disappointing,” Aronberg said. “Although I disagree with the court’s ruling, I respect it.”
The owner and manager of the Orchids of Asia Day spa will still be facing charges of deriving support from prostitution.
“These cases were never about one individual,” Aronberg said. “It is a cornerstone of our criminal-justice system that no one is above the law. By prosecuting these cases and even appealing adverse decisions up to a three-judge panel in an appellate court, I believe we have lived up to that mandate.”