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Bend masseur accused of assaulting three female customers pleads not guilty to added charges; new trial date set

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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A masseur accused of sexually abusing three female customers at a northeast Bend spa in 2023 pleaded not guilty Tuesday to expanded charges filed last fall and a judge set a new May trial date.

JianMing Tang, 47, appeared remotely before Deschutes County Circuit Judge Raymond Crutchley for the plea hearing that included a Mandarin interpreter.

Defense attorney Jason Wheeless entered the pleas on Tang’s behalf to three counts each of third-degree sexual abuse and practicing massage without a license, all Class A misdemeanors.

Court filings have not indicated a place of residence for Tang, who was working at the May Spa on NE Bellevue Drive at the time of the allegations. The initial alleged victim took part in an undercover operation that led to Tang’s arrest.

The first allegations involved a customer in July 2023. More charges were added last fall involving unwanted sexual contact with two other women. Those incidents allegedly occurred in late September 2023, less than two weeks after Tang was released on bail under conditions that included no contact with the first alleged victim.

Last May, a judge set a six-person jury trial for Jan. 14, which was canceled after the new charges were filed in late October. Crutchley on Tuesday set a three-day, six-person jury trial for May 7 and an April 29 trial readiness hearing. The judge also set a March 28 deadline for motions to be filed in the case.

In a motion filed last month and later granted to delay the trial, Wheeless said the added charges “so close to trial prejudices the defendant’s ability to defend himself,” raising “potential legal issues” as well as “factual issues such as a possible alibi defense.” The attorney also said Tang has a pending immigration application.

Article Topic Follows: Crime And Courts

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Barney Lerten

Barney is the digital content director for NewsChannel 21. Learn more about Barney here.

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