Tucson News Now has learned the investigation started with the discovery of a video on a digital camera. Police in Watsonville were alerted to a video allegedly involving Rashel Brandon and a minor performing sexual acts, according to court records.
The warrant for Stephens' arrest states that another video was discovered with Brandon, Stephens and three minors performing sex acts. Brandon was arrested in Watsonville with the warrant issued for Stephens coming from Pima County.
Brandon told detectives that she and Stephens were part of a love triangle with Kohut, according to the arrest warrant. She said Stephens is blackmailing Kohut. Brandon added that Kohut asked her to help blackmail Stephens, so Brandon came up with the idea of the video of Stephens performing sex acts with minors.
Three pages with pictures of the acts were found at Brandon's home, according to the warrant. It stated that the words "James Kohut made me do this" were written on the paper.
Electronics, DVDs and a couple hand-written letters were seized from Stephens' home in Pima County, according to the search warrant. It states someone close to Stephens claimed Brandon had been texting Stephens and threatening that she would call the police on her.
Stephens was arrested on Friday, May 12, according to court records.
She's still in the Pima County jail.
According to Watsonville police, she and Brandon are both charged with lewd and lascivious acts, with force, with a child under 14; sending harmful matter with intent to seduce a minor; specific sex acts with a child under 10 years old; specific sex acts with a child under 14 years old; and specific sex acts with force with a child under 14 years old.
Kohut was charged with lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 years old; lewd and lascivious acts, with force, with a child under 14; specific sex acts with a child under the age of 10 years old, according to police in Watsonville.
Kohut's attorney maintains his innocence.
“Dr. Kohut has spent his life saving people’s lives. He is a renowned brain surgeon. This is not conduct he would participate in and I think in the end of the day the evidence will show this is not true,” said Nick Cvietkovich.
Police believe there are no other suspects associated with this case.
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equineluvr ago
Tucson News Now has learned the investigation started with the discovery of a video on a digital camera. Police in Watsonville were alerted to a video allegedly involving Rashel Brandon and a minor performing sexual acts, according to court records.
The warrant for Stephens' arrest states that another video was discovered with Brandon, Stephens and three minors performing sex acts. Brandon was arrested in Watsonville with the warrant issued for Stephens coming from Pima County.
Brandon told detectives that she and Stephens were part of a love triangle with Kohut, according to the arrest warrant. She said Stephens is blackmailing Kohut. Brandon added that Kohut asked her to help blackmail Stephens, so Brandon came up with the idea of the video of Stephens performing sex acts with minors.
Three pages with pictures of the acts were found at Brandon's home, according to the warrant. It stated that the words "James Kohut made me do this" were written on the paper.
Electronics, DVDs and a couple hand-written letters were seized from Stephens' home in Pima County, according to the search warrant. It states someone close to Stephens claimed Brandon had been texting Stephens and threatening that she would call the police on her.
Stephens was arrested on Friday, May 12, according to court records.
She's still in the Pima County jail.
According to Watsonville police, she and Brandon are both charged with lewd and lascivious acts, with force, with a child under 14; sending harmful matter with intent to seduce a minor; specific sex acts with a child under 10 years old; specific sex acts with a child under 14 years old; and specific sex acts with force with a child under 14 years old.
Kohut was charged with lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 years old; lewd and lascivious acts, with force, with a child under 14; specific sex acts with a child under the age of 10 years old, according to police in Watsonville.
Kohut's attorney maintains his innocence.
“Dr. Kohut has spent his life saving people’s lives. He is a renowned brain surgeon. This is not conduct he would participate in and I think in the end of the day the evidence will show this is not true,” said Nick Cvietkovich.
Police believe there are no other suspects associated with this case.
The investigation is ongoing.
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