Judge sets $6.4M bail for Soquel brain surgeon

June 28--SANTA CRUZ -- Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge John Salazar set bail at $6.4 million for accused child molester and Soquel brain surgeon James Kohut during a hearing Wednesday in a full Santa Cruz courtroom.

Kohut has had a tumultous stay in jail -- with suicide threats and a hunger strike -- since his arrest May 14.

Bail was considered based on standards set in other California counties, including San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Clara and Alameda, rather than Kohut's worth and assets.

The 57-year-old brain surgeon, now jobless, faces 11 felonies linked with raping children. Kohut also owns a corporation, but Assistant District Attorney Steven Moore said he did not recall the company's name. All of Kohut's assets, including a dozen rental properties in Santa Cruz County, are sealed in court documents that cannot be viewed by the public.

Kohut's wife, Karen, has filed for separation and divorce proceedings. Defense attorney Jay Rorty said the separation prohibits Kohut from selling any properties.

Moore requested that bail be set at $40 million.

"You're picking that number out of thin air," Salazar said.

Rorty requested bail to be set at $1 million for Kohut.

Salazar said the request sought an amount that is unconstitutional.

During Wednesday's hearing, defendant Rashel Brandon, a 42-year-old nurse from Watsonville who used to work at Dominican Hospital, was ordered not to work as a nurse as part of her bail. Brandon, who is accused of raping children in the same case, is held at Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of $500,000.

Salazar approved a motion requesting that Kohut's and Brandon's cases be joined. That does not mean the court cannot separate them at another time, Moore said.

If convicted, Kohut faces a minimum 165-year prison term.

Moore also revealed that Kohut wrote a suicidal note in jail and initiated a hunger strike. Kohut is held at the medical wing of Santa Cruz County Jail.

If released, Kohut would be restricted to intensive probation, including house arrest, electronic monitoring and he would be prohibited from operating any electronic devices except a refrigerator.

A hearing in the case is set for 8:15 a.m.July 27 in superior court.

IN PROTEST

Before Wednesday's hearing, a group of protesters gathered on Santa Cruz County Superior Court's steps to denounce any consideration of the surgeon's bail.

Therapist Amy Pine, who works to treat victims of sexual assault and abuse and was among the roughly 40 protesters, said Kohut is a danger to the community where he once practiced medicine.

"We want to make sure that he is around to stand trial," Pine said. She also said there are many abuse survivors whose healing comes from acts of solidarity against predators.

"Abuse is 100-percent intolerable," Pine said.

Protester Mark Creech of Santa Cruz said the allegations should prohibit Kohut from posting bail.

"He's a threat," Creech said.

Protester Kathy Riley held a sign, "Jail Not Bail," and said the severity of the allegations, which include sodomy and rape of a child as young as 3 years old, should trump right to bail.

"We're concerned with his access to children," Riley said.

During the hearing, protesters scoffed at the request by Rorty. Another statement by an attorney stimulated applause, which Salazar immediately shut down.

"He can't be out," protester Dottie Jakobsen said before the hearing. There's too many risks with him."

This story will be updated.

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