Monroe massage therapist convicted of indecent liberties

Monroe massage therapist Charles Crawford has been convicted in Snohomish County Superior Court of inappropriately touching three women while working at the Wellbeing Center for Health last year.

A jury found Crawford guilty of indecent liberties with a patient and fourth-degree assault on June 30. His sentencing is set for 1 p.m. Sept. 5 before Superior Court Judge George Appel, according to the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

The 68-year-old Monroe resident had been working as a licensed massage therapist at the Wellbeing Center for Health for nearly a decade.

The first accusations came in February of 2016.

The Monroe Police Department responded to allegations that Crawford, who is legally blind, had inappropriately touched a client during a 90-minute session. Two more women came forward last September.

Crawford was booked into Snohomish County Jail on Sept. 15, and later released on his own recognizance. He was charged with a felony count of indecent liberties, and later fourth-degree assault.

The 41-year-old woman reported the inappropriate touching occurred as Crawford massaged her leg and inner-thigh in February 2016. She told officers the contact lasted for about a minute, and at first she thought it might have been unintentional. Then it happened a second time when he had moved on to her other leg.

Crawford had also whispered to the woman that her “perfume smelled wonderful.” She described the incident as “creepy and frightening.” She also told police she used force to keep Crawford's hands from going under the blanket as he massaged her chest area, where he came too close to her breasts multiple times.

The victim had reported the incident to Wellbeing Center for Health owner Patti Glenn and the Washington State Department of Health. Crawford denied the inappropriate touching, but then said it may have happened.

Crawford had written in a letter directed to DOH that he was aware he had touched the woman, but he  “reiterated that the touching was in performance of his job and that any touching would have been unintentional.”

A 38-year-old woman also reported inappropriate touching by Crawford occurred while she and her husband were receiving a couple's massage at the Well Being Center on Sept. 6. The incident was reported on Sept. 12. She also said Crawford touched her inappropriately while working in the inner-thigh area and while he massaged her chest. The contact was again reported to Glenn, the center's owner, who said her employee had issues with his vision and that “she would counsel him again.”

In an incident report Crawford confirmed he had touched the woman's chest inappropriately.

“I felt sick that I had caused her distress. I am so sorry,” Crawford said in the report.

Police discovered a third victim, who also reported unwanted contact, during an investigation into the second woman’s report.

Fourth-degree assault is considered a gross misdemeanor in Washington, and carries a sentence of up to one year in jail and $5,000 in fines. Indecent liberties is considered a Class B felony, which can carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $20,000.