More people come forward after massage therapist arrested on ... - Omaha World-Herald

[massage]

The arrest of a 62-year-old massage therapist has led to more people coming forward to report assaults they say the man committed, The World-Herald has learned.


Melvin Buffington was arrested Monday on suspicion of sexually penetrating one woman and inappropriately touching another woman. By late Tuesday evening he faced one charge of first-degree sexual assault and six of third-degree sexual assault. Interviews are continuing with those who may have been assaulted, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of not being named.


Buffington, of Omaha, was arrested at Oasis Massage & Spa, 689 N. 132nd St. The first two reported assaults allegedly occurred during the women’s scheduled massage appointments there.


A 23-year-old Lincoln woman reported to Omaha police on Feb. 11 that she was sexually penetrated by Buffington on Jan. 12. She had not known him before her appointment, according to a police report.


Days later, a 38-year-old woman from Omaha was sexually assaulted at the business, her husband told police. The woman was “inappropriately touched” by Buffington on Feb. 15, according to a police report.


Buffington is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.


He has held a massage therapy license in Nebraska since January 2016. A background check showed that he also was licensed in Iowa and Arizona, where he attended school in 2012 and 2015, respectively.


Lindsey Carper, the owner of Oasis, said, “We are fully cooperating with the authorities in the investigation.” She declined to discuss the matter further.


In 2012, Buffington attended Ancient Wisdom College of Healing Arts in Council Bluffs, according to his license information.


Dennis Daugherty, the owner of the school, said a 1,000-hour course is required in order to become a massage therapist in Nebraska.


Let's block ads! (Why?)