A massage therapist was in custody this week for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman at his place of business in Santa Clarita, and authorities urged other possible victims to contact detectives.
Jorge Panama, 56, was arrested Wednesday at Massage Plus Healing, where the crime allegedly occurred in April, triggering an investigation by the sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported.
He was booked on suspicion of sexual assault, and was being held on $100,000 bail, the sheriff’s department reported.
“The victim told detectives that while receiving a massage at the location, the massage therapist, Jorge Panama … sexually assaulted her,’’ according to a sheriff’s statement. “Suspect Panama was the subject of a previous sexual assault investigation in October 2018 that involved similar circumstances.’’
In that case, a woman alleged that she was sexually assaulted while receiving a massage from Panama at the same location, which was then called Stretch Therapeutic Healing Spa, the sheriff’s department reported. A case was presented to the District Attorney’s Office, but “charges were not filed dueto insufficient evidence,’’ according to the sheriff’s statement.
Special Victims Bureau detectives believe there may be other alleged victims, and urged anyone with information to call investigators via the tipline at (877) 710-5273 or send an email to specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org.
Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
