Town of Palm Beach News

Judge Dismisses Allegations Against Attorneys

A Palm Beach County judge denied a motion filed by prosecutors asking that two attorneys for Robert Kraft be held in contempt, as first reported by the Palm Beach Daily News.

County Judge Leonard Hanser denied the motion filed against attorneys Alex Spiro and William Burck on Friday. Hanser ruled that any grievances between the state and defense attorneys should be handled by the attorney’s respective bar associations.

The motion filed by the prosecutors asked that Spiro be held in contempt for “threatening, extorting and tampering” with Jupiter Police Officer Scott Kimbark in the hallway outside the courtroom where a hearing was taking place. Prosecutors said that Spiro also violated the “sequestration rule” by speaking to witnesses outside the courtroom and discussing another officers testimony. Kraft’s attorneys responded, calling the accusations “scurrilous” and said the prosecutors had “resorted to trying to smear defense counsel.”

Judge Dismisses Allegations Against Attorneys

The alleged actions of Kraft’s attorneys took place during a week of hearings in which Spiro and Burck asked Hanser to dismiss video evidence secretly recorded by police inside the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter.

Kraft, 77, owner of the NFL’s New England Patriots, and part time resident of Palm Beach, is facing two counts of soliciting prostitution after allegedly being caught of surveillance cameras paying for and receiving sex acts at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa on Jan. 19 and 20.

Related >>> Kraft’s Attorneys Accused of Contempt of Court

Hanser ruled that surveillance videos could not be used as evidence because the Jupiter police did not satisfy the “minimization requirement.” The minimization requirement mandates that authorities avoid the seizure of material that has no relation to crimes being investigated.

The State Attorney’s Office said that it plans to appear Hanser’s ruling.

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Jeanette

Jeanette

Jeanette has written for online magazines run by some of the biggest regional newspapers, college newspapers, and for various companies. She is most interested in local politics, music, and the 'foodie' scene of Palm Beach.

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