Attorneys argue over whether boys should testify in molestation trial of former baseball coach

Defense claims prosecutor told boy what to say in deposition

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Attorneys on both sides continued to argue Thursday about whether two boys should take the stand in the trial of a former Cooper City youth baseball coach who is accused of molesting them.

David Solomon was arrested last July and is accused of inappropriately touching two 11-year-old boys who were on his team in the Cooper City Optimist League.

The defense wants the boys take the stand, poking holes in their statements and claiming that prosecutors told one of the kids what to say during a deposition.

State prosecutors said the accusation is outrageous and said the child even acknowledged that he was never told what to say.

The state argues that the boys' recorded testimony should be sufficient to stand in court. That way they don't have to appear during the trial and face their accused attacker.

"I cannot allow an attorney to come into the court and violate the rules of professional conduct and give misrepresentations," the prosecutor told the judge.

The defense also aims to question the integrity of detectives on the case, saying the boys were persuaded to say certain things in return for ice cream.

"Offering ice cream to a child to come in to say that their coach touched him could be a problem," Solomon's attorney said.

Solomon was previously arrested on molestation charges in 2000 while working as a physical education teacher at Hialeah Gardens Elementary School.

In that case, Solomon and his attorneys claimed that the two boys, who were under the age of 14, were lying. One of the boys eventually recanted his claims, and the state dropped the charges against Solomon.

Solomon remains in the main Broward County jail.

No decision was made Thursday, but another hearing is scheduled for next week.