Massage therapist loses license over allegations of sexual interference

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The state of Iowa has suspended a central Iowa massage therapist’s license for allegedly engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with a client.

The Massage Therapy Board of Iowa charged therapist Hugh Parker of Nevada in June 2022 with the misdemeanor of engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with a client or co-worker or making inappropriate remarks to a client or co-worker.

At the time, the specific nature of Parker’s alleged conduct was expunged from all publicly available board records. This is due to a 2021 Iowa Supreme Court ruling that prevents licensing commissions from telling the public the exact nature of a licensee’s conduct until the case is resolved.

A hearing in the Parkers case took place last month.

Board records indicate there was evidence at the hearing that in April 2021, Parker, while working at Massage Heights in Ames, saw a client identified by the board by the initials GC

According to the council, GC later told police and a council investigator that during her massage Parker touched her vagina with her fingers, at which point she protested and the massage continued.

A woman who worked the front desk at Massage Heights that day allegedly told police she remembered GC because the woman was initially excited for her appointment that day, but later changed. looked upset and looked like she was about to cry.

In later discussions with police, Parker reportedly denied touching GC inappropriately and said he believed GC was not quite there on the date and may have been under the influence. .

According to the board, Parker told police there was always a chance there was accidental, unintentional contact, and added that he couldn’t say I hadn’t had accident.

Ames Police did not charge Parker but referred the matter to council.

In deciding to suspend Parkers’ license for a minimum of three years, the board said a preponderance of the evidence supported GC’s version of events. Additionally, the board said it was not aware of any circumstances “where a massage therapist might accidentally touch a client’s vagina.

The board ruled that Parker’s license would not be eligible for reinstatement until he had undergone a psychosexual evaluation.

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