Bend massage therapist accused of sexually assaulting two clients

A 37-year-old Bend massage therapist has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting two clients during massage sessions, Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said Thursday.

Christopher Rosario, who worked at Massage Envy at Bend’s Cascade Village Shopping Center, was arrested Sunday by Bend police and was charged this week with sexually assaulting two of his clients during massage sessions.

Bend police said the victim of Sunday’s incident reported the assault and that officers and detectives initiated an investigation. Detectives also executed a search warrant Sunday on Rosario’s home to look for evidence, said Lt. Clint Burleigh.

Deschutes County Jail records Thursday showed Rosario was being held on $250,000 bail, facing initial charges of first-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual penetration, one count of first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and three counts of third-degree sexual abuse.

Prosecutors said the man touched one of the women inappropriately on Sunday and the other incident happened on Oct. 4 of last year.

“The accounts shared by Rosario’s victims of the abuse he inflicted upon them are chilling,” Hummel said in a news release. “They went to him to receive physical care. Instead they received inhumane abuse. If these allegations are proven in a court of law, I will recommend a significant penalty.”

“These woman went to Rosario for physical care, physical treatment — instead they were brutally assaulted,” Hummel said.

Hummel said the case soon will be presented to a grand jury for formal charges. Rosario’s next court hearing is next Monday at 1:30 p.m. for arraignment on those charges.

Burleigh said, “Based on the seriousness of the incident involving Rosario and the victim, the Bend Police Department is asking the community to notify us if they have additional information regarding this case or similar incidents.” They asked those with information to call Bend PD detectives at 541-312-7956 with such information.

Massage Envy’s Website says it is “a national sales organization of independently owned and operated franchised locations” that has “hundreds of franchise owners employing more than 25,000 massage therapists, estheticians and employees.”

The company issued a statement to NewsChanel 21 that said:

“Massage Envy and its franchisees take every allegation of inappropriate conduct very seriously. We strictly enforce our Code of Conduct and Zero Tolerance Policy and impose serious consequences for those who violate them to ensure guests have a safe and professional experience when they visit our franchise locations. The therapist at issue is no longer employed by the franchisee.”