MALIBU, Calif. — Famed Malibu celebrity photographer Paul Rusconi has been cleared of criminal allegations that he raped his 20-month-old twin daughters.
In an interview with KTLA-TV, Rusconi said he believes that the couple who targeted him did so because he is a gay, single parent.
“They all called me a sexual deviant and a pervert,” Rusconi told KTLA. “That’s all stemming from my sexuality.”
On June 17, 2011, Rusconi was arrested and his two daughters were taken from him and placed in the custody of his accusers — the nanny who took care of Rusconi’s two girls, and her husband. The couple had convinced Malibu Sheriff officials and Los Angeles County Child Protective Services that they were the best caretakers for the twins.
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Rusconi was jailed overnight and then released on $220,000 bail the next day.
The nanny and her husband accused Rusconi of raping his daughters after seeing photos that he had taken of himself with his girls in a bath tub, KTLA reported.
Six months later, a rape kit produced negative results and prosecutors, unconvinced by the allegations, agreed that Rusconi posed no threat and he got his daughters back.
Rusconi is now suing his accusers, and said, “My circle is much tighter. The people I let into my life is much tighter, and I intend on keeping it that way.”
Rusconi is known for his celebrity photography including photos featuring President Barack Obama as well as the Hollywood elite.
A video interview from KTLA is here →
