Man charged with recruiting, torturing young men

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (WABC) -- There are dozens of charges against a man who claimed to be recruiting young men to do intelligence service, but instead, prosecutors say he tortured them.

Lawrence Bottone walked into court Tuesday morning, and he did not immediately come out.

A judge significantly increased bail for the man who allegedly called himself Dr. Hunter.

Bottone is accused of torturing at least five young men who police say he conned into believing they were being recruited for an international spy service.

This is the shocking next level: Bottone told the victims that as secret agents, they had to be trained to endure interrogations.

This is evidence video from the late 1990s.

Bottone previously served four years in prison for torturing young black and Hispanic men in Connecticut where he was a school teacher.

Since his release, police say the 54-year-old has trolled malls in Westchester and Rockland Counties, and was such a presence at Westchester Community College as security believed he was a faculty member.

Prosecutors say Bottone whipped one victim with a rope until his back bled, removed four fingernails of another victim, and inserted pins under the nails of others.

Yet another young man was cut twice on his back with a scalpel.

Bottone's lawyer had little comment after Tuesday's arraignment.

Bottone is charged with 29 counts including assault, unlawful imprisonment and forcible touching.

Police believe there are more victims.

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