Robert Kraft, the owner of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, reportedly will reject a deal that could lead prosecutors to drop criminal charges against him for allegedly soliciting prostitution.
CNN reported Wednesday that Kraft, 77, is turning down the proposed deferred prosecution deal extended Monday to him by the Palm Beach County State’s Attorney’s Office in Florida.
That deal would require Kraft to concede that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him if the case were to go to trial.
The billionaire businessman is accused of receiving sexual services for cash at a spa in Jupiter, Fla., during two visits in January. Those visits were caught on cameras that police hid inside the Orchids of Asia Day Spa, which was being investigated for possible human trafficking of women who worked there.
During the first visit, on Jan. 19, Kraft allegedly was serviced by two workers at the spa.
The second visit, just a day later, occurred hours before Kraft watched the Patriots defeat the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game in Kansas City. Kraft is not accused of any crime related to human trafficking.
Kraft’s lawyer in Florida, Jack Goldberger, was not accepting calls on the case, his assistant told CNBC.
CNBC has reached out for comment to Kraft’s other attorney, William Burck.
Kraft is due to appear in court on March 28.
He and two dozen other men charged in similar cases have until their court appearances to decide whether to accept the deal from prosecutors.
If the defendants accept the deal, they would have to agree to be screened for sexually transmitted diseases, complete an education course about prostitution, and do 100 hours of community service.
If they complied with those conditions, the charges would be dismissed. But if they failed to comply with the terms, the case would resume and head toward trial.
The deal offered Kraft and the other defendants is standard in Palm Beach County for people accused of misdemeanors who do not have a prior criminal conviction.
A spokesman for Kraft had said after his arrest, “We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further.”
Even if Kraft resolves the case in Florida without pleading guilty or going to trial, he still faces possible discipline from the National Football League.
The NFL has said it will handle the allegations against Kraft “in the same way we would handle any issue under the” league’s personal conduct policy.
That policy mandates that owners, players and other employees avoid “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in” the NFL.
“We are seeking a full understanding of the facts, while ensuring that we do not interfere with an ongoing law enforcement investigation. We will take appropriate action as warranted based on the facts,” the NFL said last month.
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