NEW YORK — The spiritual leader of the upstate Big apple self-aid team pleaded not guilty on Monday to freshly filed kid pornography prices at a hearing wherever it turned very clear that his co-defendants try to avoid likely to demo with him future thirty day period.

Keith Raniere was charged previous 7 days with exploiting a kid and possessing youngster pornography. He experienced Formerly pleaded not guilty to prices accusing him of working a secret Culture within his NXIVM group that compelled Females slaves to get undesired sex with him and branded them with his initials.

Assistant U.S. Lawyer Moira Penza explained to a decide on Monday that The federal government is in Lively plea negotiations with Allison Mack, best known for playing a teenage Mate of Superman around the Smallville Television set series, and two other defendants while in the sex-trafficking case. In addition, defense lawyer Mark Geragos mentioned that his consumer, Seagram liquor fortune heiress Clare Bronfman, will likely be asking for a individual trial on expenses she lender-rolled the Albany-dependent team that's been in comparison with a cult. Bronfman and Mack have Earlier denied the costs.

We dont have to be the collateral hurt, Geragos explained.

It stays unclear whether Raniere will facial area the kid porn expenses with the upcoming trial in federal courtroom in Brooklyn or if he is going Learn more to be tried using on them separately in upstate Big apple at a later on date. His legal professionals have accused prosecutors of tainting the jury pool by creating the sensational accusations with the beginning of jury collection only three weeks away.

The gravity of these costs is monumental, a single the Lawyers, Marc Agnifilo, explained Monday.

U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis advised the defense legal professionals that he wishes them to file briefs by the top with the week just before he would rule regarding how to go forward.

The prospect which the 58-12 months-old Raniere — often known as Vanguard in his team — could stand demo on your own began to get condition final 7 days when NXIVMs Main executive, Nancy Salzman, turned the 1st defendant to plead responsible. She admitted to thieving identities of the groups critics and hacking into their e mail accounts, in addition to conspiring to doctor videotapes prior to they had been turned over to plaintiffs in a brand new Jersey lawsuit in opposition to the group.

In line with a authorities filing, The brand new fees in opposition to Raniere include a fifteen-12 months-previous Lady who was employed by Nancy Salzman and who — ten decades later on — turned Ranieres to start with-line slave and a child whose sexual connection with Raniere was regarded to, and facilitated by, associates with the Organization.

Concerning the teenager, the papers say the proof involves child pornography Raniere developed and possessed and electronic communications involving the target and Raniere reflecting their sexual relationship and indicating that it started when she was fifteen decades outdated.

Raniere has denied the allegations. Hes been jailed without bail since becoming introduced on the U.S. in 2018 following his arrest in Mexico.