A Santa Cruz County Judge dropped 15 charges Thursday in the child-rape case against former Santa Cruz neurosurgeon Dr. James Kohut and two suspected co-conspirators.
Judge John Salazar found 13 charges were unfounded based on videos of children having sex with other minors — the offspring of co-defendants Rashel Brandon and Emily Stephens.
Kohut, who had faced 48 felonies, now faces 33 counts. Stephens now is charged with 30 felonies and Brandon faces 29 counts. Kohut faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted. The three are due back in court on November 15th.
