FORT MYERS, FL - According to a news report on winknews.com, a Fort Myers massage therapist has been arrested and charged with sexual assault by the Lee County Sheriff's Office. According to the arrest report, the Special Victims Unit Detectives with the Lee County Sheriff's Office arrested a 70-year-old Fort Myers Beach massage therapist on Saturday. The Lee County Sheriff's Office alleges that the massage therapist, an independently contracted massage therapist at the spa, inappropriately touched a client during the massage therapy session.
Fellow massage therapists at the spa stated that they were shocked about the allegations since the independent contractor only received positive reviews about him from clientele in the past. The spa workers said that they would call the independent contractor to perform massage therapy from "time to time." The suspect's colleagues stated that none of the staff members at the day spa could ever imagine one of their colleagues harming or inappropriately touching a client.
The day spa's manager and licensed esthetician stated that she asked the suspect to perform a massage in the room beside her booth last Saturday. The manager also stated that the alleged victim said that her message went fine, and she left a nice tip. The manager stated that she had no reason to think anything bad happened until a Lee County Sheriff's Office deputy arrived at the spa and asking her if the suspect worked at the day spa. The spa's manager said that she was shocked to learn that the massage therapist was arrested and is being accused of inappropriately touching one of the spa's clients. She said that she cried when she learned of the allegations.
Following the alleged sexual assault, the Lee County Sheriff's Office deputies found the suspect at the Community Outreach Center located on Fort Myers Beach. The deputies collected the suspect's DNA, arrested the suspect, and then booked him into the Lee County Jail.
News of the sexual assault shook the local community. A local woman stated that her heart was broken after learning about the alleged sexual assault, and she felt sorry for those who are victimized when receiving massage therapy.
The day spa has strict rules to safeguard clients, make clients feel safe, and keep clients covered during the messages. The day spa also stated that the suspect would never work at the day spa ever again.
The suspect is being held on a $50,000 bail bond.