LOS ANGELES — A suit filed Friday alleges that a New Hampshire state lawmaker produced and starred in his own porn production and later assaulted his business partner after he felt his scenes didn’t go well.
The suit says Rep. Frank Sapareto and Jonathan Carter formed a partnership to make adult movies and Sapareto would star in the first film.
According to the filing, Sapareto filmed scenes for the production in June but became upset and the next day attacked Carter at his Porn Valley-adjacent home in Simi Valley, Calif.
Sapareto, a 58-year-old Republican legislator from Derry, N.H., denied to the Associated Press allegations of knowing Carter, 38, or having any business involvement with the adult entertainment industry.
A certificate of formation for a company in New Hampshire called Standard Video LLC lists Sapareto as a “member,” the Associated Press said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sapareto told the Associated Press. “Wow, that’s a great story. I haven’t heard that one.”
Carter alleged in the lawsuit that Sapareto hit him in the head, face and body, and that he suffered a concussion. Police issued Sapareto a misdemeanor battery citation but no criminal charges were filed, according to the Associated Press, citing Eric Dubin, Carter’s attorney.
Police said the Ventura County District Attorney's office found there was insufficient evidence to charge Sapareto in the alleged assault.
Dubin said the suit seeks unspecified punitive damages and “reaches a new level of needing to deter others, especially in high office.”
Five years ago, Sapareto was convicted of simple assault for pushing his girlfriend’s daughter but served no jail time.
Sapareto once sponsored legislation to change the simple assault laws so that any fight entered into by “mutual consent” would only be a violation, not a misdemeanor. That piece of legislation failed to pass.