Former Navy Chaplain Acquitted of Molesting His Daughter in Norfolk

By Jonathan Edwards
The Virginian-Pilot
March 12, 2016

http://pilotonline.com/news/local/crime/former-navy-chaplain-acquitted-of-molesting-his-daughter-in-norfolk/article_e17a671a-b834-5105-b369-e2e1848627f9.html


A former Navy chaplain and retired rabbi didn’t molest his daughter in the 1960s and ’70s, a judge decided Friday.

Eric Aaron Silver was found not guilty on all three counts of taking indecent liberties with his daughter between the ages of 4 and 16. Norfolk Circuit Judge David Lannetti made the ruling after a two-day bench trial.

“He has his life back. He has a huge weight off his shoulders,” his lawyer James Broccoletti said Friday.

Silver took the stand this morning and testified he never molested his daughter or had any sexual activity with her, Broccoletti said. They had a close, loving – but appropriate – relationship when she was growing up, Silver told the judge. He pointed out that his daughter chose to live with him when she was 12 after he and her mother divorced.

Lannetti asked Silver why his daughter would make up allegations out of the blue after 35 years.

Silver said he didn’t know, according to Broccoletti. His daughter, Rachel Silver, has struggled in adulthood and battled financial problems, but he really didn’t know.

“He can return back to his community,” Broccoletti said, “and hopefully erase the stigma that comes with this kind of charge.”

This is a developing story. Return to PilotOnline.com for details.