EFTA00013769.pdf

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Ignorance of age not valid defense in sex cases, expert says 
Page I of 3 
PalmBeachPost.com 
Ignorance of age not valid defense in sex cases, 
expert says 
By Larry Keller 
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer 
Friday, August 04, 2006 
Cara PRINTTH IS 
Even if Palm Beach money manager Jeffrey Epstein didn't know that girls who 
police say gave him sexual massages at his Intracoastal home were under the legal 
age, that alone wouldn't have exempted him from criminal charges of sexual activity 
with minors. 
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"Ignorance is not a valid defense," said Bob Dekle, a legal skills professor who was a Lake City 
prosecutor for nearly 30 years, half of that time specializing in sex crimes against children. 
Jeffrey Epstein 
-- 
Billionaire
financier 
Jeffrey 
Epstein has 
been indicted 
for felony solicitation of 
prostitution by a grand 
jury following 
accusations by teen girls. 
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"There is no knowledge element as far as 
the age is concerned," Dekle said. 
After an 11-month investigation, Palm 
Beach police said there was probable cause 
to charge Epstein, 53, with unlawful sex 
acts with a minor and lewd and lascivious 
molestation. They contend that Epstein —
friend of the rich and famous and financial 
patron of Democratic Party organizations 
and candidates — committed those acts 
with five underage girls. 
In the past week, New York Attorney 
General and gubernatorial candidate Eliot 
Spitzer has returned about $50,000 in 
campaign contributions he received from 
Epstein, and Mark Green, a candidate to 
replace Spitzer in his current job, has 
returned $10,000 to him because of the 
Palm Beach scandal, the New York Daily 
News has reported. 
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