Cleveland kidnappings: Ariel Castro's lawyers claim he's a loving dad, not a monster Castro, 52, is charged with rape and kidnapping connected to the abduction of Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus His lawyers claim portrayals of their client are inaccurate and that he is a loving dad to his daughter Jocelyn, whose mother is victim Amanda Berry Castro reportedly refused to have children with Michelle Knight because she was 'too short,' and would starve her and punch her each time she got pregnant Former daughter-in-law says that Castro 'always gave me the heebie-jeebies' The attorneys for Cleveland abduction suspect Ariel Castro claim that he's not the 'monster' depicted in news reports - and he will plead not guilty to kidnapping and rape charges. Castro, 52, was arrested on May 6, and accused of holding three captives - Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus - in his home for about a decade. Speaking out for the first time today, Castro's legal team says that he will plead not guilty to the charges, and that despite the charges, he is not the man portrayed in the media. Horrific crimes: Ariel Castro, 52, is charged with four counts of kidnapping and three counts of rape Claims: Lawyers for Ariel Castro say that he's not the 'monster' being portrayed in the media, but a loving dad to his daughter Jocelyn, whom authorities say is his daughter with Amanda Berry, center Survivors: Michelle Knight, left, and Gina DeJesus, right, were in worse condition then Amanda Berry when they emerged from at least nine years in captivity - allegedly at the hands of Castro Castro's lawyer, Craig Weintraub, told WKYC-TV: '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. I know that family members who have been interviewed by the media have expressed that as well. Mr Weintraub denies reports that Castro has cooperated with authorities and provided some details in the abduction of the three women after his arrest. He told the station that the facts surrounding how the women came to be in his home will be revealed during Castro's trial. Lawyer: Ariel Castro's attorney Craig Weintraub says that the facts surrounding how the women came to be in Castro's home will be revealed during the trial He said: 'That fact will be disclosed as the case progresses. I am aware of how he came into contact with them. Castro's other defense attorney, Jaye Schlachet, says that there is nothing his client cares about more than his six-year-old daughter Jocelyn, whom he is alleged to have had with victim Amanda Berry. He told WKYC: 'I can tell you that Mr Castro is extremely committed to the well-being and positive future for his daughter, who he loves dearly. Man of 'monster'?: A report says that Castro had no interest in having children with Michelle Knight, because she was only 4-foot-7 and believed her to be 'mentally disabled' '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. Castro appeared to treat Berry - his 'favorite' - better than the other two, the sources said. 'There is a reason why you have only seen a picture of Amanda,' said one of the sources, referring to the condition of DeJesus and Knight. She said that Castro starved and repeatedly punched her in the stomach to force her to miscarry. Police sources told the National Enquirer that Castro had no interest in having children with Knight, because she was only 4-foot-7 and believed her to be 'mentally disabled.' The magazine's source added that he was grooming his 6-year-old daughter with Amanda, Joselyn, as another sex slave because the other captives 'were getting to old for him.' The details are the latest startling picture to emerge of Castro, whose own family has come forward to describe patterns of abuse and bizarre behavior. Monica Stephens - who was at one point married to Castro's son, Anthony - told CNN's Piers Morgan that she once visited the home on Seymour Avenue, and was struck by how Castro would 'obsessively' keep things locked up. She told Morgan: 'Ariel Castro always gave me the heebie-jeebies.' Discomfort: Ariel Castro's ex-daughter-in-law Monica Stephens says that the jailed kidnapping suspect always gave me the heebie-jeebies' Speaking out: Onil Castro, pictured center, and Pedro Castro, right, sat down with CNN's Martin Savidge, left, this week in their first interview since they were accused of being involved in the Cleveland kidnappings case Castro's brothers, 50-year-old Onil and 54-year-old Pedro, in an interview on Monday with CNN, described their brother as strange and aloof. 'I hope he rots in that jail,' Onil said. An Ohio prosecutor last week vowed to try to bring murder charges that could carry the death penalty against Ariel Castro. Those charges would stem from forced miscarriages that police say were suffered by one of his victims. The initial police report on the case said that at least five times after impregnating Knight, Ariel Castro starved and beat her in the abdomen to induce miscarriages.