Bergen County Massage Therapist Charged With Sex Assault, Spa Responds - Patch

[massage]

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A man was charged with sexual assault on Thursday for allegedly engaging in sexual activity while giving a massage in Franklin Lakes the previous weekend, prosecutors said.


The spa where he works said he has since been terminated.

Kewin Sepulveda, 29, of Paterson, was charged with sexual assault, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said.


Prosecutors said that on Saturday, Jan. 13, the Franklin Lakes Police Department received information that the suspect "engaged in sexual activity with an individual while giving a massage at the Hand and Stone Spa in Franklin Lakes, NJ on the previous day."

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Franklin Lakes Police Department investigated.


As a result, they charged Sepulveda with second-degree sexual assault on Thursday, Jan. 18, and brought him to the Bergen County Jail, prosecutors said.

He is awaiting his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.


Hand & Stone Spa released this statement:

Statement From Hand & Stone


Hand & Stone has an uncompromising commitment to creating and maintaining a safe and respectful environment for its guests and service providers. When the franchise owner of the Franklin Lakes, New Jersey Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa learned of the allegations brought against Kewin Sepulveda on Jan. 18, 2024, the massage therapist’s employment was terminated. The accused is not permitted to return to the spa, as Hand & Stone has a zero-tolerance policy related to inappropriate behavior.

The Franklin Lakes Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa is an independently owned and operated franchise location. Franchisees adhere to a rigorous spa safety program designed to prioritize the safety of its guests and service providers. All franchise locations are trained on strict hiring and screening tools, therapist training and prevention, reporting and investigation policies.

Additionally, all Hand & Stone guests are provided with a Customer Bill of Rights when they enter the spa and are informed by the massage therapist that an attention button exists under the table if they or the therapist becomes uncomfortable. This is a core part of our spa processes, as it aims to provide a safe and professional experience to all of our customers.


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