Prosecutors offer to drop charges against Kraft — but there’s a catch
Robert Kraft has been given a legal option to get off lightly in Florida.
From his two sex-solicitation charges.
According to a Wall Street Journal report Tuesday, prosecutors in Florida “have offered to drop charges” — with a catch — against not only the 77-year-old New England Patriots owner, but other men similarly charged in South Florida with prostitution-solicitation misdemeanours.
The catch, written into a proposed deferred prosecution agreement, is “for the men to admit they would have been proven guilty at trial,” the report said.
Also, the men would have to complete a course about prostitution, complete 100 hours of community service, be screened for sexually transmitted diseases and pay some court costs.
In a statement issued last month when the charges first were reported, Kraft “categorically” denied engaging “in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further.”
Police in Jupiter, Fla., said they have video evidence of Kraft not only entering Orchids of Asia Day Spa on two separate occasions, but showing a spa employee performing a sex act on him and Kraft paying the employee afterward. The second occasion occurred on the morning of the Jan. 20 AFC championship game pitting Kraft’s Patriots against the host Kansas City Chiefs, a primetime game Kraft attended.
Surveillance at that particular spa was part of a regional sting aimed at breaking up a purported expansive sex-trafficking ring in South Florida.
If convicted at trial, Kraft could face up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
It was unclear Tuesday afternoon “whether Mr. Kraft and others would accept” the condition of admitting guilt, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The offer of deferred prosecution agreement to first-time offenders is a standard resolution in South Florida.
IN THE CARDS?: Reports Tuesday said Kyler Murray, the diminutive Oklahoma University quarterback some see worthy as the No. 1 overall draft pick next month, was meeting with Arizona Cardinals brass on the Oklahoma campus. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweeted that Arizona GM Steve Keim and head coach Kliff Kingsbury met with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
ALABAMA PRO DAY: It only seemed as though every NFL talent evaluator and his brother attended Alabama’s pro day Tuesday. Included among the dozens representing all 32 clubs, as shown or seen in the background of NFL Network coverage, were Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch, New Orleans GM Mickey Loomis, Buffalo GM Brandon Beane, Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor, Pittsburgh GM Kevin Colbert, Tennessee GM Jon Robinson, Carolina GM Marty Hurney and Oakland Raiders GM Mike Mayock.
The Crimson Tide could have five or six players selected in the first round.
On offence, Josh Jacobs and Damien Harris are ranked among the top three running backs; Irv Smith is one of the top two or three tight ends; and Jonah Williams is seen as the No. 2 offensive tackle. On defence, tackle Quinnen Williams is viewed as a top-five lock and maybe the best player in the draft; Mack Wilson is regarded as the third- or fourthbest linebacker; and Deionte Thompson is a top-three safety. LADOUCEUR RE-SIGNS: Dallas re-signed veteran Canadian long-snapper L.P. Ladouceur for another year at $1.03 million with a $90,000 bonus, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com.
Incredibly, the 38-year-old Montreal native in 14 seasons with the Cowboys has been perfect on 2,003 career snaps, including playoffs.
He’s one of three Canadians on the Cowboys now after interior defensive lineman Christian Covington of Vancouver agreed to a free-agent deal last week. He joins end Tyrone Crawford of Windsor, on the Dallas D-line.
MORE SNAP SIGNINGS: The New York Giants re-signed their longtime long-snapper Zak DeOssie for a 13th season.
He and Eli Manning are the only active NFL players from the Giants’ two Super Bowl wins this century.
Indianapolis Colts long-snapper Luke Rhodes signed his tender and will return to the club for a third season after originally signing as a linebacker and special-teams specialist.
HEART GOOD TO GO: Athletic freak Montez Sweat of Mississippi
State, who at six-foot-five, 260 pounds ran the 40-yard dash at the combine in 4.41 seconds, will not require a second thorough medical check, according to Gil Brandt of NFL.com and SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Sweat was found to have a pre-existing minor heart condition at the combine.
But it’s so low risk that he was allowed to participate in speed and athleticism drills, and, according to Brandt, several NFL teams already have indicated Sweat would pass their physical.
EXTRA POINTS: Former firstround draft pick Bruce Irvin signed with the Carolina Panthers. Seattle took the edge rusher 15th overall in 2012. He never reached his potential on loaded Seahawks defences, but had 18 sacks in Oakland from 2016 until being traded to Atlanta last October. He had 3.5 sacks with the Falcons over the last half of the season … The New Orleans receiver interfered with on that controversial play near the end of the NFC championship game, Tommylee Lewis, signed with the Detroit Lions … The Giants resigned two free agents: WR Bennie Fowler and DB Tony Lippett … Cleveland re-signed DB Phillip Gaines … TE Martellus Bennett stuck a pin in speculation he might unretire and join twin brother Michael on the Patriots. Nope. He’s staying retired … LB Vontaze Burfict, cut Monday by Cincinnati, set up a visit with the Raiders, per NFL Network.