S&M lawyer who dodged NYC sex assault rap hit with new 116-count indictment: He enjoyed their pain
An S&M-loving lawyer who dodged a sex assault rap 10 years ago was slapped with sick new charges Thursday, alleging he raped and tortured a half-dozen women in his Manhattan pad, prosecutors said.Ryan Hemphill, 43, who was found not guilty of choking and assaulting his then-girlfriend at knifepoint during an over-the-top romp in 2015, allegedly used cattle prods, shock collars and waterboarding to subdue new victims during “multi-hour ordeals,” according to a 116-count indictment.“He wielded his law degree and money as both sword and shield, coercing and silencing survivors,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told reporters.“The defendant told these survivors he was untouchable.
The indictment makes clear that he was wrong.”Prosecutors said Hemphill claimed he had NYPD and organized crime ties to scare the women into submission, and hired prostitutes for the sick romps, later stiffing them or paying them with fake money.“The defendant inflicted enormous suffering and trauma on these six women, raping them repeatedly and torturing them for hours simply because he enjoyed their pain and fear,” Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Mirah Curzur told Judge Ann Scherzer in court.
“And then he threatened and intimated them to make sure they never came forward,” Curzur said.The prosecutors said Hemphill forced the women to videotape themselves consenting to the sick abuse, and maintained records of the encounters and “kept them as trophies.”Prosecutors said Hemphill also threatened his victims by claiming he had mob and cop connections.“You prostitute,” he allegedly wrote to one woman on Dec.22.
“Did you not notice all the police business cards on my f–king coffee table? I know half the precinct, you f–k.”In another text allegedly sent on Nov.30 he warned another woman, “I’m leaving here in five minutes.“If you’re not here I’m gonna f–king unleash federal hell on you,” the text said.
“You’re gonna wish you...