Massage therapist arrested, again, for sexual assaulting client, authorities say - NJ.com

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A New Jersey massage therapist was arrested Friday for allegedly sexually assaulting a client.

Jonathan Higgins, 28, was working at Hand and Stone Massage & Facial Spa in Brick Township when he allegedly “committed an act of penetration” on a woman in May, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s office.

Higgins, who is from Toms River, had already been arrested in June for the exact same charge.

A woman who picked up the phone at Hand and Stone on Saturday said no manager was available to comment.

The spa previously sent a statement to NJ Advance Media that said Higgins had worked there since March 2017, and that he had been “immediately removed from the schedule" after his first arrest. The statement said the spa hadn’t previously been aware of any problems with Higgins, and noted that he had passed a background check.

Higgins is currently in the Ocean County Jail, according to a release. He received a state bodywork and massage license in February 2016, according to public records.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer asked that any other potential victims contact the prosecutor’s office at 732-929-2027 or Brick police at 732-262-1100.

Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN.

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