Child Sex Abuse Charges Mount Against Brain Surgeon

SANTA CRUZ (AP) — A Northern California brain surgeon and two nurses arrested in May for allegedly running a child-sex ring are facing more charges.

The Santa Cruz district attorney's office announced the new charges in court Thursday.

Dr. James Kohut and the two nurses were arrested in May after investigators says they received a video images implicating the three, who were originally charged with several child molestation counts each.

A judge on Thursday set bail at $15 million for each defendant.

Previous allegations included molestation at a Scotts Valley hotel. New allegations include acts in Tuolumne County between January and May.

A new video filmed in Watsonville also was introduced as evidence. That new video is the basis for 32 new charges in the case. That video documents copulation, sodomy and other forced acts, according to court documents.

The 57-year-old Kohut, 30-year-old Emily Stephens and 43-year-old Rashel Brandon each pleaded not guilty Thursday.
Attorneys for Kohut and Stephens declined to comment on the charges. Brandon's lawyer didn't return a call.