Day 2 of Santa Cruz brain surgeon preliminary hearing
UPDATE: 10/3/2018 5:27 p.m. The preliminary hearing for the suspects accused of being involved in a child sex ring case has been continued.
Wednesday is the second day of the preliminary examination hearing for former Santa Cruz brain surgeon James Kohut, former nurse Rashel Brandon and Emily Stephens.
The three are suspected of sexually abusing three children ages three, five and nine.
The judge and counsel began to review the video evidence on Wednesday that shows some of the sexual abuse.
Tuesday, law enforcement officers took the stand to describe in graphic details the evidence they have against the three suspects.
There are reportedly videos from three different recording devices that have about an hour and a half worth of video.
District attorney inspector Kelli Freitas said the videos also reveal the suspects forced the children to have sex with each other.
Kohut, Brandon and Stephens are all facing over 40 felony charges each.
The defense was pushing for a lower bail for Kohut, but we are told that is no longer in the discussion.
The next date set for the preliminary hearing is October 26th where judge is expected to make a ruling on if the case will go to trial.
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UPDATE: 10/3/2018 12:51 p.m. A decision is expected to be made whether the three suspects accused of being involved in a child sex ring case in Santa Cruz County will stand trial.
Wednesday is the second day of the preliminary examination hearing for former Santa Cruz brain surgeon James Kohut, former nurse Rashel Brandon and Emily Stephens.
Tuesday, court law enforcement officers took the stand to describe in graphic details the evidence they have against the three suspects.
The evidence includes videos from three different recording devices that reportedly show the suspects sexually abuse children ages three, five and nine.
District attorney inspector Kelli Freitas said the videos also reveal the suspects forced the children to have sex with each other.
Kohut, Brandon and Stephens are all facing over 40 felony charges each.
Wednesday’s hearing starts at 1:30 p.m.
Reporter Ashley Keehn has been following the case and will have updates at 5 and 6pm on KION News Channel 5, 46.
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10/02/2018 6:55 p.m.The preliminary hearing for the former Santa Cruz brain surgeon James Kohut starts Tuesday.
Kohut along with two other nurses identified as Rashel Brandon and Emily Stephens are accused of running a child sex ring involving kids as young as three years old.
The children are believed to be related to Brandon and Stephens and are ages 3, 5 and 9.
Kohut is facing 48 felony charges and has pleaded not guilty.
Brandon and Kohut both formally worked at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz.
Today Kohut, Stephens and Brandon appeared briefly in court before the hearing began and were escorted out after requesting not to be present.
Several law enforcment officers with the Watsonville police department, F.B.I. and D.A.’s office along with a family member of one of the suspects testified in front of the court today.
Mostly recalling the video evidence they have seen involving sexual activity with children.
The case was brought to light when Brandon’s former husband found video described as child porn involving his wife and younger children.
The three were arrested in Spring of 2017.
Brandon revealed the Stephens and Kohut had been in a “taboo” relationship, for at least eight years before she was brought into what is described as a “love triangle.”
Brandon says Kohut told her to take videos of Stephens engaging in sexual activities with the children as blackmail because he was afraid Stephens would reveal their relationship to his family.
Kohut also reportedly wanted to empregnate several women so he could have sex with the children.
There are three devices where videos have been recorded of the sex acts including a gopro, camera and cell phone.
There are approximately two hours of video, the judge will go through that video and is expected to make a decision if there is enough evidence to go to trial by Wednesday.
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The preliminary hearing for the former Santa Cruz brain surgeon James Kohut starts Tuesday.
Kohut along with two other nurses are accused of running a child sex ring involving kids as young as three years old.
He is facing 48 felony charges and has pleaded not guilty.
Today Kohut and the two nurses involved in the ring identified as Rashel Brandon and Emily Stephens appeared briefly in court before the hearing began and were escorted out.
Two Watsonville police officers testified in front of the court recalling the video evidence they have seen involving sexual activity with children.
The preliminary hearing is expected to last at least two days.
KION’s Ashley Keehn will have more tonight at 5pm & 6pm.
