New Jersey man found dead in Pennsylvania lake

Outspoken clergy abuse advocate found hanged at home

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A federal appeals court said Tuesday that a child pornography victim from Pennsylvania can sue her abuser for damages even though he paid $200,000 restitution in the criminal case. The ruling overturned a lower court ruling involving a child victim known as "Internet Girl" because of images recorded and circulated online by her adoptive father. Michael Mancuso had adopted the girl from Russia when she was five and abused her for about five years before the FBI arrested him. Mancuso, of Pittsburgh, is serving a 15-year federal sentence following his 2004 plea. He then has several lengthy state sentences to serve, his lawyer said. Congress passed "Masha's Law" on the girl's behalf in 2006 allowing sex-abuse victims to seek at least $150,000 from anyone convicted of exploiting them. That includes people convicted of viewing their images. The U.S. Third Circuit Court said the restitution does not negate the victims' ability to seek civil damages. Mancuso's lawyer, Stanley W. Greenfield, said he will consider asking the full circuit to hear an appeal of the issue. Mancuso, an engineer in his mid-40s, repeatedly raped and sexually abused Masha on camera, sometimes during trips to Disney World. The victim, then known as Masha Allen, changed her name after testifying before Congress about the online exploitation and appearing on "Oprah." She is now about 23. "She is doing as well as can be expected given what happened to her," said her lawyer, Leighton Moore of Peachtree, Georgia.

US appeals court: Child porn victim can sue adoptive father