His spokesman, Howard Rubenstein, said, “Mr. Epstein accepted responsibility for the charges relating to conduct that occurred several years ago” and “fully resolved his case.”
Under the terms of the plea deal, Epstein will have to undergo an HIV test by Wednesday, with the results being handed over to his victim, identified in court papers as “Jane Doe.”
Doe was a 14-year-old high school student when Epstein paid her $200 for a massage at his Palm Beach mansion in early 2005. In court papers, she said he used a vibrator on her while he masturbated.
The guilty plea came after protracted negotiations and a lengthy investigation by Palm Beach police, who were investigating the virtual conga line of young women that Epstein had going in and out of his 13,000 square fooBt mansion.
Epstein, who’s rubbed elbows with the likes of Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew and Donald Trump over the years, could have faced up to five years in prison if convicted at trial.
The judge was critical of two of the deal’s conditions, indicating she thought he was getting special treatment by being allowed private counseling for his sex offender treatment and to serve his time in county jail instead of state prison.
“You feel his fancy-pantsy private psychiatrist is a adequate in lieu of a sex offender treatment program?,” she asked prosecutor Lanna Belohlavek.
“Yes, your Honor,” Belohlavek said.
As for sending him to jail, Pucillo said, “There’s significant budget cuts in the county already, and sending him to the county jail and not the Dept. of Corrections is a significant cost to the taxpayer and the county – are you sure that’s what you want to do?”
Both Belohlavek and Epstein lawyer Jeffrey Goldenberg said yes, and the judge rolled her eyes as she granted the request.
