On April 8, 2024, the Florida Department of Health issued an Emergency Order restricting the license of 40-year-old massage therapist Jason Yoho following an accusation of sexual assault against a patient. Yoho has been a licensed massage therapist in the state of Florida since 2018. As a result of the Emergency Order, Yoho is immediately prohibited from practicing massage therapy on female clients.
According to the Order, a 27-year-old female patient presented for a massage on January 4, 2024, at J Sterling’s Wellness Massage in Orlando, Florida, where Yoho is employed. Yoho allegedly reached under the sheet covering the victim, and placed his fingers beneath the edge of the victim’s underwear. Yoho allegedly also reached under the sheet to fondle the victim’s breasts and nipples. The victim did consent or give permission for these actions according to her complaint. She then left and contacted the Orange County Sheriff’s Office to report the alleged assault.
In a separate incident just twelve days after the alleged sexual assault, Yoho was arrested in Orlando for possession of cocaine during a routine traffic stop.
There are numerous pending civil lawsuits involving sexual misconduct at various massages and spas in the State of Florida. Under Florida law, massage therapists occupy positions of trust, and all sexual activity between the massage therapist and clients is strictly prohibited. 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 client in sexual activity outside the scope of practice or the scope of generally accepted treatment.
Horowitz Law has filed numerous sexual assault lawsuits against massage therapists on behalf of clients who were sexually assaulted at business across the state of Florida. 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 or send an e-mail to sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at [email protected] for a free consultation.