Report details sexual assault by Ann Arbor massage therapist - MLive.com

[massage]

An Ann Arbor massage therapist accused of sexually assaulting a client told his boss he pulled down his pants and performed oral sex on the woman because he believed she was turned on during their session, according to a police report.

Philip ChenowethCourtesy of WCSO


Philip Dale Chenoweth, 52, pleaded no contest to one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct last month and will have his massage license taken away after he is sentenced Jan. 27.

The police report, obtained via the Freedom of Information Act, says the 44-year-old woman had come to Massage Envy, 2611 Plymouth Road, about 20 times before the incident took place. The woman usually saw a different massage therapist, however.

The assault took place July 14, the second time the woman had an appointment with Chenoweth, according to the report.

The woman, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, told police that during the full body massage she was "relaxed and almost sleeping," according to the report.

While she was in this deep state of relaxation, Chenoweth pulled his pants down, touched her inappropriately and started to perform oral sex on her, according to the report.

When she protested, he allegedly told the woman, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas," according to the report. She told him that "he was violating her and wanted him to leave," the report says.

Chenoweth then became apologetic and asked her not to tell anyone what happened. The woman reported the incident to first the management, then police.

When he was fired, Chenoweth told his boss that while he was massaging the woman, she began to "moan and groan," which he couldn't tell if it was a "turn on" or "bad," according to the report. Chenoweth did not admit to the sexual assault, however.

He refused to give a statement to the police about the incident. Chenoweth, who previously worked as a mason, had only started in March.

Per a plea deal, a second count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and a count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct will be dismissed at the time of sentencing.

A sentencing agreement was also struck in the case. Chenoweth will serve one year in the Washtenaw County Jail, five years of probation and register as a sex offender, according to the agreement.

Chenoweth still has an active massage therapist's license with the state, according to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs website.

His license was issued Oct. 23, 2014 and expires Oct. 31, 2016. That likely will be changed after sentencing.

He remains free on a 10 percent of $10,000 bond until his sentencing.

John Counts covers crime and breaking news for The Ann Arbor News. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on Twitter. Find all Washtenaw County crime stories here.

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