Sexually Abusive, Hypnotist Lawyer Gets Jail Time

An Ohio lawyer who has been permanently disbarred was sentenced to 12 years in prison for putting women in trances, then sexually abusing them. Michael Fine was arrested after a woman who suspected something had happened in a meeting with him agreed to wear a wire during their next encounter. Police raided his office after Fine put the woman in a trance. Multiple victims have come forward and said Fine abused them. Though more than 50 people submitted letters on Fine’s behalf, Judge Patricia Cosgrove said, “I contrast that with the evidence in this case and statements from the victims. At the lowest point in their lives, when they came to you for help in the throes of painful divorces and custody battles, you took advantage of them. You took advantage of their trust and faith in you by sexually abusing them.” Fine pleaded guilty in September to five counts of kidnapping and one count of attempted kidnapping.