JUPITER, Fla. — New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is fighting to get surveillance video evidence thrown out in his prostitution case involving a Jupiter day spa.
Kraft's attorneys filed a motion Thursday asking a judge to suppress video recordings of Kraft in a private massage room at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa.
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In that motion, Kraft's attorneys call the evidence "fruits of an unlawful sneak-and-peek search warrant that the town of Jupiter Police Department used to spy on Mr. Kraft."
READ THE MOTION:
The motion goes onto say "Florida resorted to the most drastic, invasive, indiscriminate spying conceivable by law enforcement."
Kraft's attorneys say the recordings violated Florida law and the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. The motion claims police did not have proper evidence to get a warrant.
According to the motion, "Law enforcement plainly did not exhaust less-invasive investigatory techniques."
Jupiter police said Kraft, who is pleading not guilty to the charges against him, visited Orchids of Asia Day Spa on Jan. 19 and 20. Both times, video surveillance captured a woman performing a sex act on Kraft and showed him paying in cash, according to police.
The Jupiter Police Department is not commenting on the motion to suppress, saying this is an active investigation.
Kraft is facing charges of soliciting another to commit prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a $5,000 penalty, and a mandatory 100 hours of community service.
In February, Martin County Sheriff William Snyder announced the results of an eight-month investigation, which uncovered sex trafficking operations at five day spas from Jupiter to Hobe Sound.
According to the sheriff, the spas involved were:
- Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter
- Cove Day Spa in Stuart
- Therapy Spa in Stuart
- Bridge Day Spa in Hobe Sound
- Sequoia Apple Day Spa in Hobe Sound
Kraft released a statement earlier this month, which read in part:
"I am truly sorry. I know I have hurt and disappointed my family, my close friends, my co-workers, our fans and many others who rightfully hold me to a higher standard. Throughout my life, I have always tried to do the right thing. The last thing I would ever want to do is disrespect another human being. I have extraordinary respect for women; my morals and my soul were shaped by the most wonderful woman, the love of my life, who I was blessed to have as my partner for 50 years."
According to two sources, NFL owners will postpone any decision on whether to punish Kraft until his case is resolved.
