Butler, Indiana - Massage Therapist James Whitman Charged with Raping a Client at Butler Creative Touch Massage

Massage Therapist James Whitman Charged with Raping a Client

Last Updated: 7/13/2020
Lawyer Comments: In the second section of this article, massage therapy sexual assault lawyer Jeff Gibson discusses the legal rights of those who have been sexually assaulted by massage therapists.

57-year-old massage therapist James Whitman was arrested in January 2020 and charged with raping a client at Whitman’s business – Butler Creative Touch Massage.

Investigators said that a woman told them that Whitman performed non-consensual sexual acts during a massage at the business. The woman said that she hurt her pectoral muscle and was referred to Whitman.

According to the alleged victim, Whitman rubbed her breast in a way she felt was inappropriate. He then allegedly rubbed her thigh and then sexually assaulted her with his fingers and by putting his mouth on her breast.

When police interviewed Whitman about the allegations, they discovered that he did not have a massage therapy license in the state of Indiana. He did have a certificate from the Center for Vital Living School of Massage Therapy.

Can Massage Therapy Sexual Assault Victims File Lawsuits?

Attorney contributor Jeff Gibson represents victims of sexual assault by massage therapists. We’ve asked Jeff to share some of his thoughts on the legal options available to massage therapy sexual assault victims:

The massage therapy field has major issues with sexual assault, as there have been hundreds of police reports and civil lawsuits filed for sexual assault of customers by massage therapists. The owners of spas and massage studios must take this crisis seriously and must make sure their clients are safe.

When a massage therapist is arrested for sexually assaulting a client, that client may have grounds to take their own legal action by filing a sexual assault lawsuit against the massage therapist and/or the spa where the assault happened.

If you or a loved one has been sexually assaulted by a massage therapist, you can learn more about your legal rights in a free consultation.

Sources

https://wpta21.com/2020/01/22/massage-therapist-arrested-for-rape-in-butler/

https://www.kpcnews.com/thestar/article_3ef6127e-4cbb-5f40-b6d0-10b7b467060d.html