'No sexual purpose': Massage therapist charged with 16 sex assaults on clients testifies in own defence - CBC.ca

[massage]

A massage therapist accused of sexually assaulting clients broke down crying as he told the judge there was no sexual purpose to his treatments.

Dennis Baltazar is on trial on 16 charges of sexual assault — all of which are alleged to have taken place during scheduled massage therapy appointments.


On Tuesday, Baltazar testified in his own defence, answering questions put to him by his lawyer, Jennifer Ruttan.

Baltazar said that when he heard of the accusations against him, he felt "really bad." He testified he did not intentionally touch any of his clients sexually, nor did he receive sexual gratification from massaging the men.

"I wasn't aware I was doing all those motions."

Inadvertant vs. intentional touching


The 45-year-old married father of two cried through much of his testimony, some of which was helped along by a Filipino translator.

Over the past few weeks, Court of Queen's Bench Justice Willie deWit heard testimony from 16 men who had similar accounts of what took place during their massages from Baltazar.

At first, many thought the touching of their genitals by Baltazar was inadvertent.

Many of the complainants testified that Baltazar at first grazed their genitals before the actions turned more intentional, like stroking their penis and cupping their testicles.

One man said Baltazar complimented his body, while another testified the massage therapist said "this is a special treatment for you, we are friends."

'No sexual purpose'


Another alleged victim said he froze during his massage. Others tried to move away from Baltazar's touch or asked him to stop.

Baltazar said his intention was to give his clients the best treatment possible.

"I have no sexual purpose at all," he said.

Ruttan asked her client if he got any sexual gratification from the massages.

"No, never," he responded.

Testimony continues Wednesday


Between November 2017 and October 2018, Baltazar worked at The Movement Sports Clinic and the Chinook Chiropractic Clinic.

Baltazar was initially arrested in March 2019 and charged with four counts of sexual assault.

After the charges were made public, more men came forward.

Ruttan will continue to question her client on Wednesday.

Prosecutors Donna Spaner and Sarah Goard-Baker will have the opportunity to cross-examine the accused after that.

The trial is set to wrap up by the end of the week.