Orlando massage therapist and owner of Modern Massage Mobile Spa, Vladislav Dunaev, surrendered his license to practice massage therapy in Florida, which was accepted and adjudged as a discipline on February 9, 2022, by the Board of Massage Therapy. Following a disciplinary action brought by the Florida Department of Health after his arrest and sexual battery charges, Dunaev agreed to cease practicing immediately and not re-apply for a massage therapist license in Florida. Dunaev has been a licensed massage therapist in Florida since 2015.
A Final Order of discipline was entered following an arrest on sexual battery charges. According to the arrest affidavit, Dunaev was initially arrested in October 2020 after a complaint was made to Winter Garden Police by a female client that hired Dunaev to perform an in-home 90-massage while working (and the owner) of Modern Massage Mobile Spa on June 29, 2020. She has had massages by Dunaev at least two other times prior, but this was the first that they were alone in the room. The massage took place in her living room and the victim told the police that the massage began as usual with her topless but with underwear on and a sheet covering the front of her.
During the massage, Dunaev massaged her breasts and then moved his hands over her nipples making the client very uncomfortable. Dunaev massaged her inner thighs, grazing her labia on each side, causing her to shift her body. Vladislav continued by sliding his hand inside the client’s underwear and inserted one finger into her vagina. She immediately told Dunaev to stop and he replied with “Oh. I didn’t mean to”. He then moved to massage her feet but the client said “No, this is done”. Shortly after, Dunaev returned to her residence in an effort to try to explain what had occurred and offered the victim a free massage to which she refused. He told her that he thought it would provide her with “full relaxation.” She provided a sworn statement desiring prosecution. Dunaev was arrested on July 2, 2020, on sexual battery charges.
In June 2021, Dunaev was placed on the sex offender registry, and in August 2021, he violated his probation by accessing the internet when he was instructed not to do so as a registered sex offender until he completed a sex offender treatment program followed by a risk assessment.
The disciplinary order continues a long and disturbing trend of sexual misconduct by massage therapists statewide. Under Florida law, massage therapists occupy positions of trust, and all sexual activity between the massage therapist and clients is strictly prohibited.
Vladislav Dunaev violated the massage therapist-patient relationship. A massage therapist may not use his relationship with a client to induce or attempt to induce the patient to engage or to engage or attempt to engage the patient in sexual activity outside the scope of practice or the scope of generally accepted examination or treatment of the patient. He also then violed his probation.
Attorney Adam Horowitz has filed numerous sexual misconduct claims against massage therapists on behalf of clients who were inappropriately touched during a massage or spa service. 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 or spa, or if you know someone who has, please contact our law firm at 888-283-9922 or e-mail sexual abuse lawyer, Adam Horowitz today.