FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ All videos from the prostitution sting that ensnared billionaire Robert Kraft must continue to remain sealed, though not indefinitely, a judge ordered Monday.
Over the objection of lawyers for numerous news media outlets _ including the South Florida Sun Sentinel _ Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Joseph Marx sided with the wishes of defense attorneys for Kraft and others charged in the case.
"I'm not messing around with this," Marx said, after the media attorneys argued for the release of non-Kraft recordings from secret cameras planted by Jupiter police.
It will now be up to the media coalition to decide whether to challenge Marx's ruling in the state's 4th District Court of Appeal, said attorney Dana McElroy.
Marx ruled Monday in the felony cases of Hua Zhang and Lei Wang, the owner and manager, of the Orchids of Asia Day Spa.
Marx said he chose to piggyback on an order last week from County Judge Leonard Hanser, who is presiding over Kraft's misdemeanor cases.
Hanser ruled that the videos from the Jupiter police investigation must remain sealed, for now, to protect Kraft's right to a fair trial.
The judge wrote that the videos could become available after Kraft's trial begins, or if other events happen, such as the charges being dropped or the case ending in a plea agreement.
Meanwhile, attorneys for Kraft continue to try to keep the video evidence out the New England Patriots owner's trial, which is not yet scheduled.
Kraft's lawyers contend the police sneak-and-peek warrant for the covert cameras was unlawful, which should prevent the prosecution from leaning on the recordings to try to get convictions.
The 77-year-old part-time Palm Beach resident is charged with two misdemeanor counts of soliciting prostitution. Police also charged 24 other men and four women, including two who are accused of servicing Kraft.
A hearing on the video evidence resumes Tuesday afternoon before Hanser, who will issue a written ruling later about whether the warrant was proper.
