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Grand Traverse Resort, Loving Hands Massage and Spa in Traverse City, and other Michigan businesses have been affiliated with a massage therapist who has been accused multiple times of sexually assaulting his clients. Jeffry Knapp was arrested Thursday when a warrant was issued due to charges of criminal sexual conduct, 3rd degree.
In January, Knapp went to trial and was acquitted of charges of 3rd and 4th degree criminal sexual conduct related to massages he gave his clients.
Currently, Knapp is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in April of 2018, at Loving Hands Massage and Spa. The woman informed Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s deputies that she had told Knapp to avoid touching her feet and legs. According to reports, when Knapp began massaging her feet, the woman told him to stop. Knapp, however, allegedly continued the massage and informed her that he “may as well finish.” According to the accuser, Knapp digitally penetrated her vagina after making “uncomfortable” and “bizarre” motions on her leg.
Knapp was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2005, and he settled out of court with the accuser to avoid a trial. Knapp has recently been accused of perjuring himself during the above-mentioned trial because he testified that he left a previous job due to a reduced workload, when, in fact, he left because he had been accused of sexual assault.
SEXUAL ASSAULT BY MASSAGE THERAPISTS IS AN EPIDEMIC
Sexual misconduct by massage therapists is an epidemic in Michigan and throughout the U.S. Massage therapists are supposed to behave professionally, avoid touching a woman’s breasts and genitals, and avoid touching any location in which the client says she does not want to be touched. People put themselves in vulnerable positions during massage sessions, and they must be able to trust their masseuses. While the majority of massage therapists are professional, trustworthy people, there are some masseuses who are sexual predators.
HELP FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT & ABUSE SURVIVORS
The nationally recognized sexual assault attorneys at Grewal Law have been fighting for the rights of victims for decades, and they have made it their mission to hold sexual abusers accountable – and to stop institutional involvement in sexual abuse. The Grewal team has unique experience in holding companies and corporations accountable for allowing sexual abuse to occur.
Grewal Law represented a third of the plaintiffs in the MSU and Larry Nassar lawsuits, and the Grewal team was instrumental in obtaining the half a billion-dollar settlement from MSU. Currently, the award-winning lawyers at Grewal Law are fighting to hold USAG accountable for its role in allowing Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse to occur.
The lawyers at Grewal Law understand what it takes to prevail against sexual predators and the companies that allow their sexual misconduct to occur. Please contact the firm’s experienced attorneys for information regarding sexual assault support groups, and/or for a free consultation. The lawyers at Grewal Law are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you.
