New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft won't have to show up for a court hearing this month after recently being charged with soliciting prostitution at a day spa in Jupiter, Fla., his lawyer said Thursday.
Court records show Kraft, the 77-year-old billionaire, will have a hearing 9 a.m. March 28. Kraft's attorney, Jack Goldberger, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that it's "a routine procedural hearing" and his client won't need to appear. "The lawyer appears for the defendant in a misdemeanor case," Goldberger said in an email. "The defendant does not appear."
Police said they watched Kraft and other men taking off their clothes and receiving sexual services last month, thanks to the handful of cameras they hid inside treatment rooms at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa, a massage parlor in Jupiter.
Kraft, who has pleaded not guilty to soliciting prostitution, is accused of paying for sex acts at the parlor, the night before and morning of the Jan. 20 AFC Championship game. He then flew to Kansas City, where he saw his team beat the Chiefs.
Kraft is among the many defendants receiving court notices.
Two women, Hua Zhang and Lei Wang, were accused of owning or managing the Jupiter massage parlor. Zhang is expected to appear in court on March 21, and Wang on March 25, both on felony charges.
