Massage therapist Alfredo Barreras is the most recent employee from Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa to be arrested on sexual misconduct charges in Florida. According to law enforcement records, Barreras admitted to the sexual contact when interviewed by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office on September 7, 2018. However, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office gave notice on November 21, 2018, that they do not intend to file criminal charges against Barreras at this time. The Florida Department of Health issued an Emergency Order restricting Barreras’ massage therapy license on November 28, 2018, on account of this complaint.
Barreras last worked as a massage therapist at the Hand & Stone spa located at 1210 International Parkway South in Lake Mary. According to law enforcement records, Alfredo Barreras was arrested in Seminole County, Florida on September 8, 2018, in connection with his alleged unlawful sexual contact with a female client during an appointment on August 7, 2018. The alleged victim told law enforcement that Barreras touched her vagina, grabbed both of her breasts, and placed his mouth on both her nipples while she was there for a massage. Barreras was also interviewed by law enforcement and reported that while he was massaging his client’s leg, his hand touched her vagina. Barreras also said that while massaging his client’s shoulders, her breasts were exposed and this his mouth was over one of her breasts. Barrera said he should have walked out of the massage but did not.
There are numerous pending civil lawsuits involving sexual misconduct against Hand & Stone franchises in the State of Florida. Alfredo Barreras, age 24, has been licensed as a massage therapist in Florida since May 2014. He has worked as a massage therapist at Hand & Stone since 2015.
We are often contacted by people who want to speak to a lawyer to know what their legal options are after being sexually assaulted by a massage therapist at Hand & Stone. You have several remedies. First, you should report the incident to law enforcement to have a proper criminal investigation conducted. Second, you should contact the Department of Health or other licensing board to alert them of what occurred. Third, you may wish to consider a civil lawsuit against anyone responsible for the sexual assault, including the employer. Claims may be brought for vicarious liability, negligence, negligent hiring, negligent retention, and negligent supervision among many other claims in a lawsuit. it is not unusual for the civil lawsuit to be the only available form of justice because there are no criminal charges filed due to the high burden of proof necessary to obtain a criminal conviction. Each of these remedies serves a different purpose yet works together to assist victims in obtaining justice. Our most important goal at Horowitz Law is to reduce the number of incidents of sexual misconduct and ensure that the perpetrator never has the occasion to commit such an act in the future.
Attorney Adam Horowitz has filed numerous sexual misconduct claims against massage therapists on behalf of clients who were inappropriately touched at Hand & Stone Spa. A massage therapist is never permitted to have sexual contact with a client. If you have been a victim of sexual assault or sexual battery during a massage at Hand & Stone or any other spa, or if you know someone who has, please contact our law firm at (954) 641-2100 or send an email to sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at [email protected]