DAD IN GAY MURDER CASE HAS HISTORY

IN COURT, ANOTHER SON ACCUSED HIM OF SEXUAL ABUSE

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By Michael Horne

Charles Edward Kleser IV, the father of accused 15-year old murderer Corey Kleser, has a criminal history of his own.
Pa Kleser first came to our attention in news accounts of the murder of Ronald O. Adams, a 57-year old who had hired Corey to pose nude for him. When the older man asked the youth for sex, Corey subdued him with a hammer and finished him off with a knife. He then called his dad for a ride home October 29th.
On the way, Charles Kleser noticed blood on his son's clothing, and asked if he had killed anybody that night.
When the son confessed he had, Charles Kleser washed Corey's clothes and helped him conceal the crime -- which is not itself a crime for a parent in Wisconsin, as an amazed citizenry has learned.
Pretty much what you might expect from a man who has testified in court that he was "not father of the year by any stretch of the imagination."
Those quotes were made in a 2002 Milwaukee County court case when Kleser denied sexually abusing another son, Charles E. Kleser V. He did plead guilty to stealing that son's identity, though.
The felony charges indicated that Kleser had moved out of his home owing the utility company $800. He stole his son's identity, which was much the same as his except for Roman numeral and date of birth. The old man's ruse was uncovered when his estranged son received a bad credit report when he tried to purchase a house. Police questioned the father, who confessed to using his son's Social Security number to open the account. He could have asked his own mother, who supported him, for the utility deposit, but did not do so for reasons of "pride," he said. He lived with her at the time, but had been estranged from his son for many years.
In a presentence report, younger Charles Kleser said he was "very upset with his father." He added when he was a child, his father "physically and sexually abused him." When he was 12, Charles V stated that his father "gave him to a family friend." He then went to foster care.
The father had had a number of convictions, three of which involved jail time.
Charles V also submitted a letter to Judge Jean DiMotto, explaining his "difficult childhood," dealing with his father's drug and alcohol abuse.
Kleser admitted he "had a pretty serious drug and alcohol problem" when Charles V and his brother Corey were growing up.
The son's letter and his quotes in the presentence report raised the ire of Judge Jean DiMotto, who heard the case. She let fly with a flurry of comments from the bench, asking, "what kind of father would do this to his son," and calling Kesler's crime "abominable" and "lower than low." His pride may have prevented him from asking for a handout from mom, but had not prevented him "from once again taking advantage of [his] son," the judge said.
Just before handing down a four-year prison sentence, she added: "I find this crime so egregious. It's the crime of a low life to betray his own flesh and blood. And there is credence in what your son says because otherwise it does not make sense that a 48- or 49-year old father would do this to his own son.
"The interests of this community include the interests of your son who you have violated by this crime. All of us have a right to be protected from this, but surely a son has the -- a right to be protected from this criminality by his own father."
After the sentencing, Kleser made a postconviction motion, claiming the circuit court "erroneously exercised sentencing discretion by relying on improper factors and affording too much weight to his son's representations."
The three judge panel affirmed the judgment and order of the Circuit Court.

So, even before Corey Kleser's trial begins, things are looking very interesting. The 15-year old did tell police he had had a difficult childhood. God knows his brother did. But if dad had no problem donating one 12-year old son to a family "friend," you wonder if he had anything to do with, say, pimping out his 15-year old son to 57-year old men?

[I should add, parenthetically, that I have been unable to uncover any information thus far about Ronald O. Adams. If anybody knew him, you know where to find me. -- Michael Horne]