Ariel Castro’s lawyers are probably the only people in the world right now who have positive things to say about the Cleveland kidnapper. They say he is a family man who has been misunderstood.

New reports say that kidnap victims Michelle Knight and Gina Dejesus were chained, starved and beaten by Ariel Castro, but his lawyers have issued a statement saying that he is NOT a monster. Speaking on May 14, attorneys Craig Weintraub and Jaye Schlachet said Ariel is planning on pleading “not guilty” to four counts of kidnapping and three counts of rape.

Ariel Castro Pleading Not Guilty

Ariel’s lawyer Craig Weintraub said he is “pleading not guilty to all charges” of rape and kidnapping.

“The initial portrayal by the media has been one of a ‘monster’ and that’s not the impression that I got when I talked to him for three hours,” Craig said to Cleveland’s WKYC-TV. “I know that family members who have been interviewed by the media have expressed that as well.”

Craig argues that Ariel is a loving father who is committed to his daughter.

He is “extremely committed to the well being and positive future for his daughter, who he loves dearly. And if people find that to be a disconnect from what he’s alleged to have done, then the people will just have to deal with it. We just know how he feels about his little girl.”

The lawyers insist that Ariel needs a fair trial, as he has not been treated fairly by the media.

“I know the media wants to jump to conclusions and all the people in the community want to say terrible things about the person who’s accused, [but] we are not even at the beginning of the process,”  Jaye Schlachet said of the wall-to-wall coverage the case has received. “If this was a marathon race, we’re not even at the starting line yet.”

While Ariel’s lawyers believe he is not a monster, they will have a hard time convincing the rest of the world to think that.

Michelle Knight & Gina DeJesus Treated ‘Like Prisoners Of War’

Michelle and Gina were rescued along with Amanda Berry on May 6, and the Daily Mail said the reason photos of Michelle and Gina haven’t been released is because they are in such bad condition.

Another source revealed Ariel’s basement was equipped with chains coming from the walls and dog leashes hanging from the ceiling. Michelle and Gina spent most of their time in the basement, and were held in the chains in “stress positions.”

One of the girls has difficulty moving her head around from being chained up. It was like they were POWs. They had bed sores from being left in positions for extended lengths of time.

If he left for long periods of time he would sometimes duct tape-up the women over all parts of their faces, even their eyes, only leaving an opening so they could breathe. Then he would just rip it off pulling off skin and hair.

If these reports are true, then no amount of arguing from a lawyer will convince anyone that Ariel is not a monster.

What do YOU think HollywoodLifers? Do YOU think Ariel is a monster?

WATCH: Amanda Berry & Daughter Return Home After 10 Years

More On Ariel Castro’s Kidnapping:

1. Ariel Castro Treated Daughter Jocelyn Berry ‘Like A Pet,’ Expert Says
2. Ariel Castro’s Daughter: My Father Is ‘Evil’ & ‘Demonic’
3. Ariel Castro Would Give Girls A Cake On Anniversaries Of Kidnapping