Former Virginia Beach massage therapist sentenced to 8 years for sexually assaulting client - MSN

[Jane Harper, The Virginian-Pilot]

VIRGINIA BEACH — A former massage therapist was sentenced Thursday to eight years in prison for sexually assaulting a client.


In a trial in October, A jury found Bowen Lee Lajesse, 48, guilty of object sexual penetration and battery as treatment not recognized in profession. Circuit Judge Afshin Farashahi also ordered that he register as a sex offender, according to a release from the commonwealth’s attorney’s office.

The assault happened in January 2023 at Fuller School for Massage Therapy, the release said. Lajesse was working as a contract massage therapist at multiple places.

The victim had been a client at the school, but had never had an appointment with Lajesse before the incident. She fell asleep during the massage, and awoke to find Lajesse assaulting her, the release said. She called her best friend and mother immediately afterward, and later returned to the school with her husband to confront Lajesse, the release said.

Lajesse admitted he touched the victim inappropriately, but claimed it was a misunderstanding, according to prosecutors. He was immediately fired by the school and has since forfeited his massage therapy license.

Jane Harper, [email protected]

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