Former massage therapist pleads guilty to criminal sexual conduct charge - PostBulletin.com

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William Scott Nevala, 53, pleaded guilty in Olmsted County District Court on Monday morning to a gross misdemeanor charge of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct-nonconsensual sexual contact. Nevala had originally been charged with felony fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct-massage or bodywork for hire.

As part of the plea, Nevala admitted to touching the woman’s “intimate parts” on purpose and without the woman’s consent. At the time of the assault, Nevala was working as a massage therapist and was giving the woman a massage in October 2019.

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Nevala was given a stay of imposition by Judge Joseph Chase. He was ordered placed on probation for two years, must complete a psychological-sexual examination and perform no massage work while on probation. He must also register as a predatory offender for 10 years.


The Post Bulletin does not generally identify victims of sexual assault.

Telling the judge how the assault impacted her, the woman said she spent months putting off medical care as she was afraid to have a healthcare professional touch her. As a result of postponing care, the woman said she now requires surgery for her health issues that could have been managed without surgery if she had felt comfortable seeking treatment early.

“I saw him as a healthcare professional, and I trusted him to work with integrity, with my safety and care in mind. I let my guard down, as one does when they are trying to relax,” she said. “In the moment, I was jolted from relaxation into confusion. I was naked, vulnerable, and caught off guard by his actions and unwanted touching.”

The woman said she questioned his intentions when he placed the draping so it didn't cover her body but told herself she was jumping to conclusions and that maybe it was unintentional.

"I left the massage in a state of numbness, in shock, trying to understand, rationalize and compartmentalize what had just occurred," she said.

The woman said she reported the incident to her partner and her therapist the day after it occurred and decided to report the incident to police.

"He seemed to me, quite confident that I would keep his secret," she said. "I had a feeling that there had been others before that he had done this to and that if not stopped, he would continue to if he were to stay in this role. So I reported him."

The woman said that victims do not get to walk away from their assault.

"It disrupts our senses of security, dignity, our self-respect and safety," she said. "It instills fear, anxiety, frustrations, and distrust in our lives -- all things that have unintended consequences and are weights that we must carry with us as we move on. Because of this, it is my personal feeling that Mr. Nevala should shoulder this burden as well."

Following her statement, Nevala's attorney Arens Dilaveri told the court Nevala has taken full responsibility for his actions and that he was very remorseful of what he did.

"He will have to start all over," Dilaveri said.

Speaking on his own behalf, Nevala said he is extremely remorseful and that he hopes the woman can one day forgive him and that he can forgive himself.

"This was an awful betrayal of trust," Chase said before handing down his sentence. "Mr. Nevala says he's remorseful for it. I hope that's true because he ought to be."