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Therapist Convicted In Tampa In Online Sex-Abuse Case

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 16, 2008

Updated: 12/16/2008 02:24 pm

Charles Friedlander

TAMPA - A 78-year-old mental health therapist faces up to life in prison after being convicted this afternoon of a federal charge that he drove to the Tampa area to sexually and physically abuse two boys he thought would be made available by their father.

After the verdict was read, Charles Friedlander was overcome with emotion, according to his attorney, George Tragos. He was led away to jail in a wheelchair.

Tragos said, "We're very disappointed and working on the appeal immediately."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Kaiser said, "This is obviously a very scary and concerning case for the public. We're pleased with the verdict."

Judge James D. Whittemore scheduled sentencing for March 16.

The prosecution said Friedlander began an online conversation with an undercover detective he thought shared his interest in sexual gratification through the sexual abuse and beating of young children.

The defense maintained that 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.

Jurors deliberated less than an hour Monday and returned to court around 9:30 this morning to resume.

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. The two boys did not really exist.

Friedlander's lawyer, George Tragos, told jurors in closing arguments Monday 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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