A Miami Beach massage therapist was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting his client. NBC6’s Chris Hush reports
A Miami Beach massage therapist was arrested following an alleged sexual assault of a client last week, police said.
According to an arrest report, the client had arrived on Friday at Sun Curves Miami along West Avenue for a two-hour lymphatic massage, a service that she previously had done twice with the masseur, 51-year-old Erick Barrios.
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The victim claimed that Barrios began touching her inappropriately towards the end of the session, before sexually assaulting her.
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The victim told Barrios to stop several times, before she eventually said she needed to leave the session to use the restroom, according to the arrest report. The victim then rushed to the front desk area to tell the employees and owner about the alleged assault.
Barrios, who is legally blind, was taken into custody and sat down for an interview with Miami Beach Police on Monday, where he admitted that he could have easily touched the client inappropriately, but that it would have been accidental and with no wrong intentions, the report continued.
He was arrested and is now facing a sexual battery charge. In bond court on Tuesday, a judge ordered Barrios to have no contact with the victim and said he is not allowed to work at the spa while charges are pending.
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NBC6 spoke with the owner of the spa by phone on Tuesday, who said she was stunned by the allegations. She said Barrios is well-known and always respectful, and said she's never had a complaint filed against him.
"Always, everyone is happy with everything, so for me to think that he did this thing is also hard for me. It’s something I never expect," Jenny Porras said. "I always ask the customers, 'How was the massage?' They say 'It’s excellent, it’s the best.' They always reschedule appointments with him. I have never had any complaints about him. This is the first time."
Porras said Barrios has worked at the spa for less than a year but has a large client base.
Investigators said they've looked at surveillance video from the lobby of the spa, which they said showed the alleged victim visibly upset and so distraught she put her clothes on backwards as she rushed out of the massage room.
Barrios was given a $10,000 bond but his attorney said he will be transferred to Krome Detention Center on an immigration hold.
