A Northern Virginia massage therapist is accused of sexually assaulting two clients last month. News4’s Aimee Cho reports.
Picard Johnson, 31, who worked at Massage Envy at the Shoppes at Foxchase in Alexandria, faces two felony counts of object sexual penetration, police said.
Massage Envy’s website says if a customer makes an allegation of sexual assault, the franchise must give them a brochure with contact information for the owner, a sexual assault hotline and local police, but employees are not required to call police themselves.
“It is our policy to respect the victim’s privacy and their right to decide whether they would like to report,” the website says.
Instead, Massage Envy says the franchise should conduct an independent third-party investigation. If the therapist is found guilty, they’re fired, and not eligible for rehire at any location.
“This is a problem that Massage Envy has been dealing with for years,” attorney Adam Horowitz said.
He said his firm has represented about 50 people around the country in civil suits against Massage Envy for sexual assault. In the majority of cases, the company has settled, he said.
“They put out a lot of PR statements about preventing sexual assault, but it continues to happen,” Horowitz said.
In 2018, an employee at the Massage Envy in Tenleytown pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting three customers. He was sentenced to 5 years.
“Mr. Johnson denies any allegation of improper action in his role as a massage therapist,” his attorney said in a statement. “He is a professional who has sought to do a good job for his clients and to act in a reputable manner. He looks forward to his day in court to refute these allegations.”
News4 reached out to Massage Envy’s corporate office for an interview or statement but has not heard back. A person who identified herself as a manager at the Alexandria location declined to comment.
According to the company’s website, its businesses are all independently owned franchises. In response to allegations of assault in 2017, the company said allegations of assault were “heartbreaking” and “even one incident is too many.” They also said they would be requiring annual background checks for all massage therapists and partnering with the anti-sexual violence organization The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network to do a review of its policies.
Detectives are searching for anyone who visited the Massage Envy location at Foxchase between Aug. 1 and Sept. 26 who had any inappropriate contact with Johnson. Anyone who did is asked to call Detective Vanderah with the APD Criminal Investigations Bureau at 703-746-6678. Information can be provided anonymously.
Victims' advocates have been assigned to help the victims receive resources and assistance, police said.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault and would like to speak with someone or get resources, you may contact the Alexandria Sexual Assault Hotline at 703-683-7273.
