NOVEMBER 10--A Florida man suspected of possessing child pornography asserted that he was not a pedophile, instead telling police that he was a “law-abiding pervert,” according to records.

As investigators were executing a search warrant last month at his residence, Anthony Coiro, 76, admitted that he looked at “crazy” pornography, a practice that he anticipated could lead to contact by law enforcement.

Cops searched Coiro’s home in Port Orange, a city just south of Daytona Beach, after initially receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A search of Coiro’s e-mail account had turned up “numerous images and videos of depictions of sexual performance by a child,” according to a Volusia County Sheriff’s Office report.

When investigators arrived to seize his computer equipment and electronic devices, Coiro was asked if he knew why they were there. “Because I look at porn on the Internet,” the retiree answered. Asked what kind of porn he looked at, Coiro replied, “crazy shit.”

But Coiro wanted to make something clear: “I'm not a pedophile, I'm just a pervert." He also described himself as a “law-abiding pervert.”

Despite those protestations, Coiro reportedly also told police he was guilty of possessing illicit images of children.

After a subsequent examination of Coiro’s computer, investigators found more than 4000 photos and videos depicting child pornography, prompting Coiro’s arrest Tuesday on 52 felony counts of possessing child pornography.

Pictured in the above mug shot, Coiro is locked up in the county jail, where he is being held without bond. (3 pages)