Massage therapist acquitted of sex crimes - Cherry Hill Courier Post

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WOODBURY - A massage therapist accused of sexually assaulting a customer has been acquitted, the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office said.

A jury found Jose Mercado Jr. not guilty in a verdict March 15.


Richard Sparaco, the Cherry Hill defense attorney for Mercado, was pleased with the verdict.

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"It was a long time coming. The case took almost five years to get to trial. We were very pleased that it took the jury only 50 minutes to reach their not guilty verdict," he said.

Mercado had been accused of assaulting the female customer at a Washington Township spa in July 2012.

An appeals court in 2014 ruled Mercado's jury could not be told of a similar case in Florida involving the man. He was not convicted in that case, either.

"The case against Mercado was presented in accordance with the New Jersey Supreme Court decision on prior allegations — allegations the prosecution and trial court believed were relevant — and the Mercado jury found him not guilty," Prosecutor's Office spokesman Bernie Weisenfeld said.

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