SANTA CRUZ – Emily Stephens of Tucson, Arizona, turned from the gallery Friday morning in Santa Cruz County Superior Court during her first appearance on charges linked with child molestation. She is accused of conspiring with a Santa Cruz brain surgeon and Watsonville nurse in a series of sex-related crimes involving children.

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Alleged child rapist and Santa Cruz brain surgeon is getting a divorce Superior Court Judge Stephen Siegel set the Stephens’ bail at $600,000 in the case involving neurosurgeon James Kohut, 57, and nurse Rashel Brandon, 43. Stephens, 30, pleaded not guilty Friday to nine felonies linked with sodomy, lewd acts and copulation with children. She was not accompanied in court by the other defendants.

Stephens hired Salinas attorney Brian Worthington, who spoke to reporters after the hearing. Worthington said he has received the criminal complaint but has not had the chance to review the evidence. He told the Sentinel that his client is not a nurse despite statements to the contrary by authorities early in the case.

“She denies these charges. It is her intent to continue to deny these charges,” Worthington said. He also said he does not know whether his client recently was pregnant. An investigation report by Pima County Sheriff’s Department, multiple witnesses said Stephens was pregnant when she was arrested May 12.

Santa Cruz County Jail officials said she was not pregnant when she arrived at the jail Thursday morning.

Worthington said his client is a strong woman accused of “some pretty terrible crimes.”

“Anyone in that situation would be having a difficult time processing that,” Worthington said. “She understands the slow and deliberate process in front of her.”

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Assistant District Attorney Steven Moore, who asked bail to be set at $6 million, said Stephens exhausted all resources in attempts to oppose her transfer from Arizona.

He declined to comment on evidence in the case or to say whether there is new evidence in the case.

As to whether charges could be added against the defendants, he said it is possible.

Worthington, who said news media attention has the potential to taint the jury pool, said he does not know whether he would seek a change of venue.

Stephens will not likely post bail before her bail hearing 8:15 a.m. Sept. 6, Worthington said.

“We wouldn’t want to post it and have something change,” Worthington said. “I would say we’re probably in a holding pattern until Sept. 6.”

Kohut faces 10 felonies alleging he engaged in oral sex, intercourse and forced lewd acts on children. Six of the charges can bring life sentences if convicted. Kohut is accused of having sex with a boy and girl younger than 10 years old, and a boy younger than 14 years old, since Jan. 1, 2016, according to court documents. Brandon faces eight felonies linked with child molestation.