A New York man held an 81-year-old Navy veteran captive for four years, starving and beating him, in order to steal his pension checks for drugs, authorities say.

Perry Coniglio, 43, was arrested in Orange County Wednesday on multiple charges, including unlawful imprisonment, endangerment of an incompetent person, grand larceny and criminal possession of a weapon.

Highland Falls police said Coniglio, a motel handyman, held former U.S. Navy veteran David McClellan captive for four years at the U.S. Academy Motel, near West Point.

Police said they had gotten complaints for years that Coniglio, who was posing as the victim's caretaker, was verbally abusing the elderly man. But when video surfaced that it turned more physical, they raided the motel Tuesday night.

"That of course elevated our concern for the well-being of the victim yesterday, so last night we moved in and took Coniglio into custody," said Highlands Police Det. Joseph Cornetta.

McClellan was taken to the hospital and is in the care of adult protective services.

Coniglio allegedly cashed the victim's pension checks and cleared out his bank accounts over the years.

Attorney information for Coniglio wasn't immediately available.