By Peter Mitchell
A wealthy Californian brain surgeon accused of child rape and seeking women as far away as Australia to impregnate so he could molest their children has been granted bail despite prosecution fears and public protests.
Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge John Salazar agreed to release Dr James Kohut on US$6.45 million bail.
Prosecutor Steve Moore argued strongly against bail, telling the court Kohut has a 20-year history of similar crimes and has the financial ability to flee before trial.
Moore requested Kohut put up US$40 million for bail, a figure the doctor's lawyer labelled unconstitutional.