Robert Kraft will not accept plea deal, according to sources
Embattled New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has reportedly turned down the prosecution’s offer of a plea deal in his solicitation case.
Updating a report from earlier today, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft will reportedly turn down the offer of a plea deal first extended by the prosecution in his solicitation case on Tuesday. The news of Kraft’s decision was first reported by CNN’s Jason Carroll and Kevin Conlon, who cited sources familiar with the situation in their report Wednesday.
Originally, prosecution had offered to drop all misdemeanor charges against Kraft and 24 other men implicated in the Palm Beach County prostitution sting operation, if the defendants agreed 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.”
Additionally – and perhaps most importantly – the defendants were required to admit they would have been “found guilty should the case go to trial.”
Sources familiar with Kraft’s line of thinking suggested this last condition would be the sticking point that ultimately forced him to reject the deal, as it appears he has. A report from ESPN’s T.J. Quinn suggested that Kraft was “especially concerned about having his name connected to accusations of sex trafficking,” although the two women he is accused of paying for and receiving illicit sexual services from are reportedly not suspected of being victims of sex trafficking.
Kraft is accused of visiting the Orchids of Asia Day Spa twice in a 24-hour window leading up to the AFC Championship Game. It has been rumored that there is video footage of Kraft visiting the massage parlor, paying for, and receiving illicit services, though Kraft’s legal team has since filed a motion to suppress this evidence on the grounds that there was “no probable cause to collect (it) in the first place.”
The 77-year-old owner has staunchly denied doing anything illegal, and submitted a plea of “not guilty” to the charges six days after they were first made public.
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It remains to be seen whether Kraft’s case will go to trial, as the arraignment is currently scheduled for March 28. He could be facing additional discipline beyond what the court system deems necessary, as it is believed the NFL is watching the case closely and could further punish Kraft should he be found guilty for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.