BRANFORD, Conn. — Branford police arrested three people involved in a "violent torture and assault" that included lighting a person on fire, according to the town's police department Wednesday.
On Sept. 1, Avante Ryan, 22, and two 17-year-olds lured the victim into a remote location in a wooded area and held them against their will for three hours, police said.
During that time, the suspects tortured the victim, which police said included "being physically assaulted, slashed, set on fire, pistol-whipped and sexually assaulted."
According to police, they received information about a video recording that captured the incident, through which they identified and found where it took place.
Police said they found the victim recovering at a local hospital from serious injuries.
Ryan is facing charges of conspiracy to commit aggravated sexual assault in the first degree, assault in the first degree, conspiracy to commit assault in the first degree, cruelty to persons, conspiracy to commit cruelty to persons, robbery in the first degree, conspiracy to commit robbery in the first degree, criminal use of a firearm, threatening in the first degree and risk of injury to a child.
Police are holding Ryan on a $1 million bond. He appeared in court Thursday and denied the allegations.
Ryan's bail commissioner said he is currently caring for a six-year-old child and is enrolled in technical school in East Windsor. His attorney alleged that Ryan suffers from mental health issues.
According to prosecutors, Ryan has a criminal record with several ongoing charges still being worked out in the court system, including an active warrant out of North Branford.
Ryan is due back in court on Oct. 2.
The two 17-year-olds are facing charges including aggravated sexual assault in the first degree, conspiracy to commit aggravated sexual assault in the first degree, assault in the first degree, conspiracy to commit assault in the first degree, cruelty to persons, conspiracy to commit cruelty to persons, robbery in the first degree, conspiracy to commit robbery in the first degree, criminal use of a firearm, kidnapping in the first degree with a firearm, conspiracy to commit kidnapping in the first degree with a firearm, threatening in the first degree and risk of injury to a child.
Police detained both teens on $1 million bonds.
Branford police credited the New Haven State's Attorney's Office, Hartford police and the Judicial Marshals at the Hartford Superior Court.
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