Massage therapist charged with sex assault 'misread the moment'
The Fort Collins massage therapist accused of fondling a female client said he was "so embarrassed and misread the moment" after the woman told him to stop, court documents released Wednesday reveal.
A reportedly remorseful Marcos Duran also reportedly told the alleged victim, "I know you could have my job." He admitted in a phone call with a police officer who posed as the client that he had lost sleep and would do anything to right his wrongs.
Fort Collins police said a woman was receiving a massage about 9:30 p.m. April 11 when the 30-year-old therapist at Miramont Lifestyle Fitness South, 901 Oakridge Drive, touched her inappropriately during a leg massage. The woman received a SANE exam the following day and reported the incident to police.
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The alleged victim did not want to speak with Duran, so an investigator called him on April 14 and posed as the client.
"I told Marcos I had been worried that earlier in the treatment I sent mixed messages and I was sorry if I did. Marcos said he felt 'God awful,'" the investigator wrote in a sworn statement. "...Marcos said it would never happen ever again. Marcos said I had every right to make it hell for him and said he felt sick and had been puking."
Duran went into the police department on April 18 and said he had worked with Miramont for about a year. He thought the woman was aroused during the massage and that gave him "conflicting thoughts," investigators wrote, again noting his apparent regret.
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"Upon learning of the charge, Miramont took immediate and appropriate corrective action," wrote Lindsay Randall, general manager of Miramont South, in a prepared statement. "Miramont has been in business since 1996 and has never before experienced an instance of this type of alleged behavior. We are sensitive to the situation at hand and will support the process in every way possible. At this point, it is in the hands of the legal system."
Duran was arrested Monday and has been formally charged with counts of sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact — Class 4 felonies punishable by up to six years in prison. Bond in the cases is set at $10,000. Duran is due in court for a first appearance Thursday.
Fort Collins police are asking anyone else who believes they were inappropriately touched to contact Detective Tessa Jakobsson at 970-221-6575 or tjakobsson@fcgov.com.
Reporter Jason Pohl covers breaking news for the Coloradoan. Follow him on Twitter: @pohl_jason.