An Ohio lawyer has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after hypnotizing a half-dozen female clients and controlling them for his own sexual gratification.
Michael Fine, 59, pleaded guilty in September to putting the women in trances before giving them sexual commands against their will, Time reports.
Former Atty. Michael Fine sentenced to 12 yrs in prison for multiple counts of kidnapping w/sexual motivation spec. pic.twitter.com/PCeZxw5SEv
— Eric Bonzar (@E_Bonzar) November 14, 2016
Fine, a married father, had pleaded guilty to five counts of kidnapping and one count of attempted kidnapping— each of which carries a sexual motivation specification, according to Time.
Some of the women Fine took advantage of had reportedly come to him for legal help following recent divorces. They left the sessions with no recollection of the sexual commands and only remembered business discussed.
Police launched an investigation after one client became suspicious.
“I went to Michael Fine with help in getting out of a terrible and abusive situation. I paid him to help me. He used my trust and his position as my attorney to gain information about my vulnerabilities,” one of his victims said in court, according to the Chronicle-Telegram. “He then used that information not only to protect and defend me, but also to manipulate, hurt and take advantage of me.”
