A lawsuit has been filed against Essentials Massage and Facials of Westchase in Tampa for sexual assault.
- Sexual assault lawsuit filed against Tampa massage chain
- Client at Essentials Massage and Facials sexually assaulted by employee
- Dakota Scott, 21, inappropriately touched Kristy Yarcho, 52, report stated
The suit alleges that a client was sexually assaulted during the course of a massage on July 19, 2017.
Kristy Yarcho, 52, said she went to Essentials Massage for a relaxing two-hour massage that day and was sexually assaulted by Dakota Scott, 21, the employee the spa assigned to her, according to the lawsuit.
When she moved away from him and told him to stop, Scott apologized profusely and the massage ended, according to the report.
The incident was reported to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office later that day, as well as the Florida Department of Health.
According to the report, the State's Attorney declined to prosecute the matter, but the Department of Health, which licenses masseurs in the state of Florida, began an investigation.
The complaint also alleges that the massage industry has a "substantial problem" of male therapists sexually assaulting female clients that is "known or should be known" to Essentials.
In late November 2017, a Buzzfeed News report revealed that one of Essentials’ competitors, Massage Envy, was the subject of nearly 200 claims of sexual abuse of clients nationwide.