Celebrity Photographer Arrested and Police Are Looking for More Victims
Celebrity photographer and acting coach Kenneth Howard Dolin was arrested last Monday on suspicion of sexual assault. Now, authorities believe there may be even more victims from his past.
The arrest came after Dolin, who is 64 according to authorities, allegedly sexually assaulted a 29-year-old woman in his Wilshire Division home/studio, NBC Los Angeles reported.
Police believe there are more victims, who they are encouraging to come forward, after a further investigation found two other sexual assault accusations from 2017 brought by two separate women, according to NBC.
Dolin has significant connections in the entertainment industry and is known to seek out models online, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement.
All three known incidents began similarly, police say, “with professional contacts that led to reports of Dolin touching women inappropriately during photo shoots when they were alone in his studio.” The arrest was for penetration with a foreign object, though no other details were released. Though Dolin was booked, it’s unclear if he faces formal charges at this time or if charges may come in the future. He has since been released from custody, police said, “pending further investigation.”
The LAPD released an image of Dolin to help identify and speak with any other possible past victims.
“These victims felt trapped and had to comply with his advances,” Detective Brent Hopkins, a supervisor with the Special Assault Section, said in the statement. “There’s a huge difference between art photography and sexual assault. We want to make sure we know everything that happened and make sure that line does not get crossed again.”
“If you have been a victim or have information about this investigation, you are urged to contact Officer Richard Podkowski, Special Assault Section, at 213-473-0447. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247),” the LAPD said in its statement. “Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.”
Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.