Massage therapist charged with sexual assault of client in Palo Alto - San Francisco Chronicle

[massage]

Joel Umanzor

May 9, 2023Updated: May 9, 2023 7:48 p.m.

Massage therapist Cesar Castro Moreno, 58, is charged with one felony count of forcible oral copulation in connection with an assault that took place at the LaBelle Day Spa & Salon in April in Palo Alto, according to police.

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A massage therapist was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a woman in April at a Palo Alto spa, according to authorities.

Cesar Castro Moreno, 58, of Gilroy, is charged with one felony count of forcible oral copulation in connection with an assault that took place at the LaBelle Day Spa & Salon on the 800 block of El Camino Real on April 15, according to Palo Alto police.


The victim — described as in her 20s — went to police two days after the incident and told investigators that Castro Moreno sexually assaulted her during her massage appointment, Palo Alto police said.

A Santa Clara County judge issued a warrant for Castro Moreno’s arrest on May 2, after the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office filed the charge against him, authorities said.

Gilroy police arrested him around 10 a.m. on Thursday at his home on the 8200 block of Murray Avenue, police added. He was booked into Santa Clara County jail.

Investigators are not aware of any additional victims but are encouraging anyone with information on Castro Moreno to contact the Palo Alto Police Department at 650-329-2413.


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Joel Umanzor joined The San Francisco Chronicle as a breaking news reporter in 2022. A 2021-2023 Hearst Fellow, he was previously a breaking news reporter on The Houston Chronicle's Metro desk.

Originally from Richmond, Calif., Umanzor graduated from San Francisco State University in 2021. When not in the newsroom or chasing down a source, he can be found painting, listening to hip-hop or watching sports.


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