Robert Kraft offered plea deal in solicitation of prostitution case

Florida prosecutors have reportedly offered embattled New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft a plea deal ahead of his trial for solicitation of prostitution.

According to a report originally released by the Wall Street Journal, Florida prosecutors have allegedly offered New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft a plea deal ahead of his upcoming March 28 trial for solicitation of prostitution.

If he admits that he would have been found guilty at trial, the prosecution will drops its charges against him, as well as all the other men convicted in the Florida massage parlor sting operation (provided they all do the same). Kraft would also be required to “complete an educational course on prostitution, perform 1,000 hours of community service, take a screening for sexually transmitted diseases and pay for some court costs.”

Less than three weeks after his team won Super Bowl 53, news broke that Kraft was one of hundreds of men implicated in the sting, which targeted Palm Beach County massage parlors where illicit sexual services were paid for by and performed on clients. Kraft has been accused of visiting the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida, twice within a 24-hour window on the eve of the AFC Championship Game back in late January.

Six days after the initial reports were made visible, Kraft’s legal team submitted a plea of “not guilty” after being charged with two misdemeanor counts of soliciting prostitution. Though Kraft has yet to comment on the case publicly, an official statement from his spokesperson claimed that he and all his legal team “categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity.”

While the prosecution reportedly has video footage evidence of Kraft paying for and then receiving illicit services at the massage parlor, there is at least some belief that the charges might not stand if the case goes to trial, according to NBC Sports Boston. Reason for such optimism on Kraft’s behalf reportedly stems from his hiring of a “high-powered legal team.”

The Wall Street Journal calls the plea deal “unusual” in its proposal. As of this writing, it is not known whether Kraft and his legal team plan to accept the deal or to reject it and allow the case to go to court. According to Kraft’s lawyers, Kraft himself will not be required to attend his own court date should it go to trial.

Depending on the outcome of this case, the NFL could discipline Kraft for violating its personal code of conduct policy.