Owner of the New England Patriots, Robert Kraft, entered a plea of not guilty to two counts of soliciting prostitution in Florida, court records show. Attorneys for the 77-year-old Kraft electronically filed the plea Monday in Palm Beach County Court, seeking a non-jury trial.
Kraft was charged following a sex trafficking investigation of central Florida day spas and massage parlors suspected of being used for prostitution. Prosecutors say that Kraft, who has a home in Palm Beach, was among 25 people accused. The investigation began when a health inspector observed curious details that suggested women might be living at the day spa. Authorities say surveillance footage caught Kraft visiting a spa in Jupiter on January 19 and 20 and paying for services in cash.
The charge is a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail, a $5,000 civil penalty and a mandatory 100 hours of community service.
Editorial credit: migylopz / Shutterstock.com