exposing the dark side of adoption
Register Log in

'Disney Porn' Photographer Convicted

public

Matthew Alan Mancuso Found Guilty Of Abusing Adoptive Daughter

A man who took pornographic pictures of his own adoptive daughter at a Walt Disney World resort and then posted them on the Internet has been found guilty of sexually abusing her for years.

Authorities spent months trying to identify the girl shown in a series of graphic photos.

In May, the WESH 2 I-Team found the 12-year-old girl known as Mea and broadcast her plea for justice.

Matthew Alan Mancuso, 46, was found guilty on 11 counts Tuesday, including rape of a child. His victim was a girl he adopted in Russia and brought back to his home in Pittsburgh, Pa. His attorney said Mancuso has already taken steps to pay for what he did.

"He put a $200,000 trust fund for the child … whatever amends for the child, as you see it, that could be made, he has attempted to make," said attorney Stanley Greenfield.

In 2004, Mancuso was court-ordered to pay that money after he pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Some of the photos were taken during vacations at Disney World.

In May, the 12-year-old victim and her new adoptive mother told WESH 2 News they were frustrated that the state never held Mancuso accountable for the things he did to her, such as chaining her in the basement, sexually abusing her, and even making her exchange marriage vows with him.

"I think it's wrong he didn't get charged with half the stuff he did, and I don't think that should happen to anybody," Mea told WESH 2 News's Bob Kealing on May 17.

"She's scarred for life and her pictures are on the Internet and they can't be stopped. There's no way of stopping them completely," said her new adoptive mom, Faith.

The day after WESH 2 News's interviews aired, authorities in Pittsburgh filed the charges for which Mancuso was convicted on Tuesday. Sentencing is set for Nov. 17.

Sexual assault charges in Orlando for the incidents at Disney World are still pending.

A spokeswoman for the Orange-Osceola state attorney's office said it's too soon to say what this conviction will do to the case here.

To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Bob Kealing.

www.wesh.com
2005 Aug 23