On March 8, 2024, the Florida Department of Health issued an Emergency Order restricting Marcellus Williams III's license to practice massage therapy following allegations that he sexually assaulted two female clients while working at Caribbean Mystique Massage and Wellness Spa in Tampa. Marcellus Williams has been a licensed massage therapist in Florida since November 2015. The emergency restriction immediately prohibits Williams from performing any massage therapy on female clients as a result of this Order. Williams is also facing criminal charges for the same alleged sexual assaults.
According to the Emergency Order, there have been two complaints filed with the Tampa Police Department since 2022 by two separate women alleging that Marcellus Williams sexually assaulted them during massage appointments at Caribbean Mystique. In October of 2022, Williams was first arrested on Battery charges after a report was made claiming Marcellus Williams touched the client inappropriately during a massage he performed on August 10, 2022. The incident report from the criminal case states that the client had been a "regular" at the spa with Williams as her therapist since 2019. On the date of the incident, the client began the massage face up, flipping over face down about halfway through as she normally did on prior occasions. She specifically mentioned to Williams that she should focus on her shoulders and back. On this day, the client reportedly dozed off while getting the massage and awoke startled by Williams touching her upper thigh and grazing her vagina. Williams then allegedly touched her inappropriately again over her panties, which prompted the client to get up abruptly. Williams said, "I'm sorry, I thought you wanted me to do that." The client asked Williams why he thought that, and he stated that it was because of the Instagram video that she sent him of women getting their buttocks massaged, which the client referred to as a joke. The female client got dressed, paid for her service, and immediately left without booking the next appointment. The incident reports state that Marcellus Williams tried apologizing via text on social media, but she had blocked him. The client was not going to file charges against Williams until she found out that Marcellus Williams was re-hired by Caribbean Mystique and that she felt he should have accountability.
On the evening of December 28, 2023, Marcellus Williams performed massage therapy services on a 37-year-old Caribbean Mystique Massage and Wellness client. After a few minutes of massaging the client's neck and shoulders, Williams allegedly placed his hands under the sheet and cupped the client's breasts. The client froze. The client alleges that Williams continued to rub her breasts for several minutes until the massage was over. The client then dressed and asked to speak to the manager, who had already left for the day. The client then called her sister and told her of the incident, and then she filed an official complaint with Tampa Police Department the following day. Williams was charged with Battery, a first-degree misdemeanor. Williams has pleaded not guilty in both cases.
Caribbean Mystique stated that Williams was fired from the spa, being this was his second complaint of sexual assault.
Clients of massage therapists are placed in isolated, vulnerable settings where they can be subject to abuse by their massage therapists. Due to the potential for abuse that is inherent under these circumstances, massage therapists must possess good judgment and good moral character in order to practice massage therapy safely. Incidents such as this are a reminder that persons who may commit sexual misconduct work in all industries, even professions in which we typically place our blind trust. All allegations of sexual abuse must be thoroughly investigated by law enforcement, and employers must be especially vigilant in supervision and protection at all times. Marcellus Williams is accused of abusing his power and lacked good moral judgment to massage his female clients safely.
Horowitz Law has filed numerous sexual assault lawsuits against massage therapists for clients who were inappropriately touched at various massage salons and spas. If you have been a victim of sexual assault or sexual battery during a massage, or if you know someone who has, please contact our law firm at 888-283-9922.