Ex-‘Real Housewife’ Elizabeth Vargas ‘traumatized’ by alleged assault, extortion over nude photos

A 33-year-old felon accused of threatening to kill a former “The Real Housewives of Orange County” cast member in her Newport Beach home after allegedly extorting her over nude photographs is facing more than a half-dozen criminal charges.

Ryan Matthew Geraghty was charged with six felony counts – including extortion, assault with a firearm and making criminal threats – as well as two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance following an alleged assault against the reality television star.

Her manager confirmed the victim was Elizabeth Lyn Vargas, though prosecutors did not identify her. But they said she and Geraghty had been in a relationship.

Geraghty was arrested after he went to Vargas’ home, pointed a gun at her and threatened to kill her for refusing to give him any more money, prosecutors said. Officers took Geraghty into custody following a reported two-hour standoff at the residence in the 100 block of Medina Way in which police say he was “actively threatening the life” of Vargas.

Vargas’ manager, David Weintraub, in a statement issued on Wednesday said Vargas is “doing fine” but was “extremely traumatized by the events that happened yesterday in her home.”

According to Weintraub, Vargas “was held captive for a number of hours and is extremely thankful to the Newport Beach Police Department, who was able to rescue her and get her out of harm’s way. She spent the entire night with the Newport Beach Police Department going over what exactly happened and she is just glad to be safely out of that situation.”

Geraghty, a Los Angeles resident, is now accused of forcing Vargas to give him an undisclosed amount of money, and buy him a BMW, in exchange for him not selling nude photos of her to the media.

According to a DA statement, the alleged extortion began on Christmas Eve, and included several acts of violence.

At one point, Geraghty is accused of punching Vargas in the face when she told him she wasn’t going to give him any more money. He allegedly pointed a gun at her and threatened to kill her when she again tried to cut him off, according to prosecutors.

During an earlier argument, Geraghty allegedly fired a gun into the ceiling while Vargas hid in a closet.