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Defendant Is 'Lonely Man,' Not A Pedophile, Lawyer Tells Jury

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2008

TAMPA - Charles Friedlander is "a 78-year-old lonely man whose only social life is on the Internet," and not a pedophile who attempted to sexually and physically abuse two boys, Friedlander's lawyer told a jury today.

Friedlander, a licensed mental health therapist, is accused of driving from Fort Myers to Pinellas County to meet a man he thought was a father who would let him beat and have sex with his boys, ages 10 and 11.

The father was really an undercover detective who had chatted with Friedlander on the Internet about being sexually turned on by extreme physical abuse of young children.

But Friedlander's lawyer, George Tragos, told jurors in closing arguments that the defendant was merely fantasizing and had no intention of abusing any children.

"The Internet is the Wild West of the world," Tragos said. "You can be anybody you want to be because it's protected."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Kaiser said Friedlander was not just fantasizing.

"The evidence in this case is simply overwhelming," she said. She showed jurors items found in Friedlander's car when he was arrested, including a razor strap and a riding crop.

"It's not a fantasy when you talk about beating children and you drive all the way, hours, with the implements," Kaiser said. "He said he was going to bring them and he did."

Tragos said the prosecution had no evidence, such as traces of blood or DNA, to show Friedlander ever used the razor strap, which Tragos referred to as "an old barber's belt."

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837.

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