SANTA CRUZ — A Tucson, Ariz. woman pleaded not guilty in a suspected child molestation case in Santa Cruz Superior Court Friday that involves a Santa Cruz area brain surgeon, James Kohut.
Charges against Emily Stephens, 30, include nine felony counts linked to sodomy, lewd acts and copulation with children.
Kohut faces 11 charges including lewd and lascivious acts on children under 10 years of age.
Assistant District Attorney Steven Moore said Kohut has a history dating back 20 years of similar crimes, and that Kohut has been investigated several times in the past by agencies that include the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Australian police.
“He has a history that demonstrates a level of compulsivity,” Moore said. “We have evidence of him talking to other individuals that make him an ongoing danger to real children in the community.”
“A bail hearing has been set for Sept. 6,” said defense attorney Brian Worthington. “I don’t believe she is a flight risk. The media attention does make this a difficult case. The media is getting information that is often exaggerated and taken out of context.”
“Her bail was set at $600,000,” Moore said. “We believe bail should be set at $6 million.”
Stephens will return to court on Sept. 6 with her co-defendants, Kohut and nurse Rashel Brandon.
The trio is accused of numerous sex offenses against children, which includes making a video of some of the acts.
