The statement goes on to cite their "zero-tolerance policy" toward inappropriate behavior at all locations and that all franchise locations are trained on "strict hiring and screening tools, therapist training and prevention, reporting and investigation policies. The Queen Creek Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa is an independently owned and operated franchise location," a spokesperson with Hand & Stone said. Hand & Stone will continue to cooperate with authorities in their investigation. "The accused is not permitted to return to the spa. Republic investigation: How Arizona allows massage therapists with sexual abuse allegations to keep working On June 6, Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa provided The Arizona Republic with a statement, saying Ochoa's employment ended in October 2022, six months before the arrest. Ochoa was ultimately booked into jail and faces multiple charges including four total counts of sexual abuse, one count of kidnapping, one count of assault and one count of sexual assault. Once in custody, Ochoa declined to participate in an interview, court documents state. On May 30, after it took three separate women to report their abuse, Gilbert police arrested Ochoa as he arrived to work at the El Bella Day Spa just before 9 a.m. However, the woman told investigators that Ochoa had entered the massage room after she had gotten undressed, proceeded to lock the door and pulled the draping down to expose her.Ĭourt documents state that Ochoa engaged in a number of nonconsensual acts with the third victim, who said she believed she was going to be raped. This too had been the victim's third appointment with Ochoa, court documents state. The victim additionally told detectives that the incident has traumatized her to the point of having nightmares about it.Īs the investigation continued, on May 13, 2023, Gilbert police received yet another report from a different woman saying she had been sexually assaulted at the El Bella Day Spa. The woman told Queen Creek detectives that she had previously received a massage from Ochoa two different times at the Hand & Stone Spa, but nothing inappropriate had occurred until the third appointment, where she said that Ochoa moved under the sheets and performed nonconsensual sexual acts, including grabbing her crotch and oral sex, on her for several minutes, court documents state. In this incident, Queen Creek police had responded and were told by the manager of the spa that the woman had canceled her membership, stating she had been sexually assaulted, court documents state. Another woman had said she was sexually assaulted by a massage therapist named Raul in October 2022 at the Hand & Stone Day Spa.įind out more: Want to know whether a massage therapist has received complaints? It's not easy Investigators followed up with the woman, who said that during the course of the massage, Ochoa had touched her inappropriately multiple times, including pulling her underwear down, as well as contorting her and removing the draping that "would have exposed her if she weren't wearing underwear," court documents state.ĭetectives began combing through licensed massage therapists in Arizona named Raul and eventually found Ochoa and confirmed his identity with the victim.Īs the investigation continued, Gilbert police found a similar report taken by Queen Creek police. 22, 2023, from a woman saying she had been assaulted by her massage therapist named Raul, later found to be Ochoa, during her appointment at the El Bella Day Spa in Gilbert, according to court documents. Gilbert police arrested 45-year-old Raul Perez Ochoa on Tuesday after three women said he sexually assaulted them.
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