Massage therapist Jonathan Riggs loses license over sex abuse charges - The Arizona Republic

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Jonathan David Riggs, a Scottsdale massage therapist, lost his Arizona massage license Monday after a client alleged he inappropriately touched her breasts and vagina during a massage and he was later convicted of two counts of sexual abuse in Maricopa County Superior Court.

The Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy said they found multiple violations of state law during a formal disciplinary hearing and revoked Riggs' license. The 36-year-old therapist is scheduled to be sentenced later this month in a separate court proceeding.

He had been working at Coyote Bodywork in Scottsdale for about three weeks when he was accused of touching the breasts and vagina of a client during a 90-minute massage in August 2021, according to court records. The client called Scottsdale police, who investigated the allegations.

Riggs initially denied touching the client's breasts and vagina during the $79 massage, according to court records. But records say when police confronted him about DNA evidence taken from the client's body, they said he admitted he touched her vagina for a brief second. He said it was a mistake, and it was because he was getting tired.

On Monday, he told the massage board he felt coerced into making a confession by police.

"These allegations never happened. They are heresy," he said.

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At Monday's board hearing, Riggs told state regulators that he was giving a sports massage to the client and massaging Caesarean scar tissue. He said he believes the client had past trauma in her life, creating an "emotional reaction" during the massage.

"My testimony is I did not intentionally or knowingly engage in sexual contact with (the client's) breast or vagina," he said.

Riggs on Monday repeatedly used the client's first and last name during the formal disciplinary hearing — which was conducted virtually in public session — despite being warned to only use initials to protect her privacy. The client did not take part in the meeting, but her testimony was introduced via court records and a police report.

Riggs was arrested on Aug. 11, 2021, and criminally charged by a grand jury. Massage therapists are required to notify state regulators within 10 working days if they are charged with a felony, and Riggs did not notify the board of the criminal charges until months later, on July 25, according to the massage board's senior investigator David Elson.

When Elson found out about the criminal charges by reading a story on azcentral.com, the board opened an investigation into the allegations and issued a summary suspension of his license in March, meaning he was prohibited from working while the board investigated the allegations. The board uses summary suspensions in instances where state regulators believe the suspension is necessary to protect public health and safety.

Records show Riggs has been licensed in Arizona since 2009. He told police that he estimates he has provided about 10,000 massages.

Board members on Monday took issue with Riggs' characterization that the client didn't display discomfort with the session. Board member Bailey DeRoest, who works with victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, said it's common for victims to freeze during trauma.

The Massage Board's actions on Monday reflect an increasingly aggressive stance against therapists facing complaints of sexual abuse.

Last year, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, who appoints members of the Massage Board, replaced the entire board following a five-month investigation by The Arizona Republic that found the licensing board gave therapists second chances when accused of fondling or sexually abusing their clients. This puts customers in danger, and there is very little they can do to protect themselves.

The newly installed board has revoked several licenses as well as issued summary suspensions to prevent therapists from working while the board investigated the allegations. The previous board rarely, if ever, used summary suspensions.

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-8072. Follow her on Twitter @anneryman.

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