They face sexual misconduct allegations, but get to keep working. An investigation shows how accused massage therapists in Arizona often keep their licenses and rarely get criminally charged.
that licenses and investigates complaints against massage therapists. Many of them work for large national chains like Massage Envy, which is headquartered in Scottsdale and has been the focus of sexual assault complaints nationally and in Arizona.
Harris was stunned when the massage board voted unanimously to dismiss the complaint and issue him only an advisory letter, a nondisciplinary action that says he “could have exercised better professional judgment and engaged in better communications with your client." This reluctance to revoke a professional license is not unusual. The state’s five-member massage therapist licensing board gives many therapists second chances when they are accused of fondling or sexually abusing their clients. This puts customers in danger, and there is very little they can do to protect themselves.
Adam Horowitz, a Florida attorney who has represented clients in more than 50 lawsuits against massage businesses. Phoenix attorney Robert Pastor, who represents victims of sexual abuse calls the massage studio the “perfect location” for sexual assault. The client is relaxed. Alone with the therapist behind a closed door. Naked or wearing only underwear, making it difficult to flee. Then shocked by what happens and frozen in response.One of his clients is a woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted in 2015 at a Massage Envy franchise in Avondale, a suburb of Phoenix.
Lopez denied the allegations. He has been a therapist for 11 years and never had a complaint, he told the board. He no longer worked at Rubs and had since moved onto private practice. for three months, gave him a year’s probation and ordered him to take 16 hours of continuing education in ethics, communication and business practices.
A woman, identified as “A.M.,” said a massage therapist repeatedly touched her breasts, labia and clitoris during a 2017 massage at the Massage Envy Arrowhead in Glendale. Besides the lack of a licensing exam, there are other gaps in state regulation in Arizona that present risks to the public. By January 2017 while still on probation, he was working at Massage Envy Camelback in Phoenix, according to state licensing records. A customer, identified as “D.S.,” alleged that he touched the sides of her breasts. As a former spa owner, D.S. has had thousands of massages. She knew the massage wasn’t right.
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