ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 28: Owner Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots looks on during Super Bowl LIII Opening Night at State Farm Arena. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
From the NFL Newswire at 985TheSportsHub.com
Lawyers for Robert Kraft filed a motion in Palm Beach County court to suppress all evidence in the prostitution case against the Patriots owner, according to a new report by Ken Belson of the New York Times. The attorneys for 14 other men involved in the case did the same.
The motion presumably centers around the supposed video evidence of Kraft and the other defendants allegedly soliciting another to commit prostitution at the Orchids of Asia day spa in Jupiter, Fla. A recent affidavit describes in graphic detail what they accuse Kraft of doing in two separate visits in January.
Kraft pleaded not guilty to the charges in February, and also reportedly rejected a plea deal to have the charges dropped in exchange for admitting he would’ve been found guilty in court. According to the New York Times report, his lawyers argue in the filing that all of the evidence in the case should remain confidential because it was not produced in the discovery process.
The defendants also dispute that the case contains any victims of any offense, indicating that they disagree with the prosecution about the existence of human trafficking in the alleged offenses.
Kraft faces a maximum penalty of a year in jail, a $5,000 fine, 100 hours of community service, and a mandatory class on the dangers of prostitution and human trafficking if convicted. Jail time appears highly unlikely. But he’s also subject to discipline from the NFL through its personal conduct policy, which could result in a suspension and/or fine.
However, Kraft may ultimately feel that the public release of the video evidence – and the resulting damage to his public image – would be the most severe punishment of all.
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