A Los Angeles court will set a date for a preliminary hearing into allegations of sexual misconduct against Premier Ewart Brown's son Kevin, on December 11.

The 37-year-old physician faces 33 charges including sexual battery by fraud and sexual exploitation of 12 patients.

He appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday, when a date for his preliminary hearing was initially to have been set.

Brown instead announced he might change his lawyers Kevin Bowman and Blair Berk, although both appeared with him in court.

The general practitioner was then warned by Commissioner Henry Hall, that a change in lawyers would not buy him more time and that the preliminary hearing would move forward within 30 days.

Brown had been held in custody but was released on $4 million bail on October 25 after a judge ruled that the money had not come from felonious sources. The ruling was required because of a separate investigation into allegations that Brown is part of a multi-million dollar medical fraud scheme and accusations that he over-prescribed pain killers. Such allegations require full disclosure on the full source of funds if the accused posts bail. The Royal Gazette understands the sum came from family and friends.

As part of the conditions of his bail, Brown has been placed on an electronic monitor and is only allowed to leave home to attend to his practice, the Crenshaw Expo Medical Centre.

While at work, he must have a court-appointed consultant with him at all times if female patients are in the office.

Brown, who is the eldest of the Premier's four sons, graced the headlines of Bermudian papers when it was revealed his charity, the Urban Health Institute of Los Angeles sponsored a celebrity poker tournament at the Playboy Mansion.

Premier Brown attended the May event and donated three trips to Bermuda in partnership with Elbow Beach Hotel.

His son was arrested on July 8 following a year-long sting operation which ended after he allegedly assaulted an undercover police officer posing as a patient.

He posted the $50,000 bail only to be arrested again. On July 21 six more patients came forward.

His bail was raised to $4 million after prosecutors learned of his father's position in Bermuda.