MONROE — A massage therapist was hauled away in handcuffs late last week after a jury convicted him of indecent liberties with a patient.
Jurors also found Charles Crawford guilty of fourth-degree assault involving a second patient. Crawford, 68, shook his head in disbelief after Friday’s verdict was read.
The Monroe man faces up to 20 months in prison when he’s sentenced in September. He also will have to register as a sex offender. Snohomish County Superior Court Judge George Appel ordered Crawford held without bail.
Prosecutors alleged that Crawford sexually groped three women at the Well Being Center for Health in Monroe. Crawford claimed he had accidentally touched the women’s genitalia during massages. He denied that the touching was intentional or for sexual gratification.
A woman first reported Crawford in February 2016. She alerted the center’s manager and the state Department of Health. She also called police.
Crawford was under investigation when a second woman stepped forward in September. The woman and her husband were in the same room getting separate massages when Crawford assaulted her. She reported the incident to the owner, who told the woman she would counsel Crawford again, according to court documents.
“The victim was completely unaware that the defendant was already accused of this behavior with at least one other woman (though the number has grown),” Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Bob Langbehn wrote in court papers.
Jurors also heard that Crawford was accused of inappropriately touching another woman in 2015.
The defendant tried to impress jurors with his knowledge of the human body and his expertise, yet he claimed he accidentally fondled three different women, Langbehn said in closing arguments.
“The defendant’s actions were indulgent. They were purposeful,” he said.
Crawford obtained his massage license in 2007. The state Department of Health is investigating the allegations. Enforcement action is pending, according to the state’s website.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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