Legal Analysis By Attorneys
Breaking Legal News
Last Updated: 7/13/2020
Massage therapist Steven Torres has been sentenced to 9 to 18 months in jail after pleading guilty to several misdemeanor charges of indecent assault and harassment. Torres was accused of inappropriately touching three women during massage therapy sessions at Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa in Upper Providence, PA.
These incidents happened between April and July of 2018 at the chain location in Upper Providence. Torres has also been banned from working as a massage therapist in the future and has been ordered to stay away from Hand & Stone and to have no contact with the three victims. He will also be on three years of probation after parole and must complete 100 hours of community service.
According to Montgomery County District Attorney Alexandria MacMaster, Torres “admitted that he touched three victims in intimate parts of their bodies without consent when he was acting as a massage therapist.”
Torres reportedly brought all three victims into a backroom at Hand & Stone, where he touched them inappropriately.
Police began investigating Torres in July of 2018 after two women contacted Upper Providence police to report that he had sexually assaulted them during massages at Hand & Stone. A third victim came forward after the first two victims’ allegations made the news.
Attorney contributor Guy D'Andrea is a former sex crimes prosecutor who now represents sexual assault victims in civil lawsuits. Brian has represented several victims of massage therapist sexual assault in civil lawsuits against massage therapy businesses. Here is Brian with some thoughts on the legal rights of those who have been sexually assaulted by massage therapists:
Massage therapists are in positions of trust and power over their clients, as clients trust their massage therapists to treat them with respect while the clients are in vulnerable positions. Most massage therapists are trustworthy, but sadly, there have also been hundreds of reports of massage therapists sexually assaulting their clients. These victims deserve justice for what they’ve been through.
In some of these cases, the sexual assault could have been prevented if not for negligence by the massage therapy business – such as failing to run background checks before hiring employees. In cases of negligence, massage therapist sexual assault victims may have grounds for a lawsuit against the business. Many victims have already filed lawsuits against nationwide chains like Massage Envy and Hand & Stone.
If you or a loved one is a survivor of sexual assault by a massage therapist, you can learn more about your legal rights in a free consultation with one of our experienced sexual assault victims lawyers.
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