Posted on December 15, in Sex Crimes. Being aware of the line that exists between professional massage therapy and potentially illicit activities is crucial, whether you are a practicing therapist or a client seeking services. While massages are recognized methods to alleviate stress and relax muscles, one needs to keep these situations and relationships professional due to legal implications in Phoenix. Unlike traditional massages, which typically focus on relaxing muscles and relieving stress, a sensual massage aims at stimulating erogenous zones of the body to provoke pleasure.
In Phoenix, Arizona, practicing sensual massages is against the law. A therapist must acquire an appropriate license endorsed by the Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy to be permitted to offer professional therapeutic services. According to the standards set by the Board and Arizona state law, massage therapists are always prohibited from engaging in sexual activities with a client, even if it is the client who requests it. This also covers any form of advertising that may imply that such activities may take place during massage services.
Any possible breach by a licensed therapist runs contrary to professional standards and can potentially jeopardize their license status. If found guilty, the consequences can range from fines to jail time β or even both. Depending on the circumstances, prostitution can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
False allegations β claiming you are innocent β represent a defense that could be used. In certain scenarios, an individual may wrongly accuse another person for various reasons, such as revenge or anger. To succeed with this defense, your attorney will analyze the summary of events as outlined by the accuser for any discrepancies or inconsistencies over time and across different statements made to law enforcement officials. If you can demonstrate that the charges against you are based on false accusations, this could lead to dropped charges or an acquittal.
Misunderstanding is another line of defense that you can explore. In these cases, it might be possible that signals were crossed and intentions were misinterpreted during a massage session. Any evidence that reinforces your narrative should be gathered. This could include positive communications between you and the alleged victim after the incident allegedly occurred, which might help show that nothing inappropriate happened. Lastly, a misidentification defense can be used.
