A Bellefonte massage therapist was arrested Sunday on charges that he allegedly sexually assaulted a client last week.
According to a criminal complaint, a woman told Bellefonte police that she previously had two massage appointments with Carl E. Nelson, 37, at Sincere Therapy, 221 W. High St. and during those appointments Nelson had been professional, careful and timid.
When the woman arrived for her third appointment with Nelson on Tuesday night, she told him she was going to become a foster mother, at which point he hugged and congratulated her, police said. He then told her to get undressed and lie face up on the table so he could focus on her neck and shoulders. While she was getting undressed, Nelson allegedly walked in without knocking and quickly turned around.
The woman told police that the massage started normally, but after about 45 minutes, after she turned over onto her stomach, he began to massage her inner thighs and she was uncomfortable because it started to feel sexual, according to the complaint.
Nelson then allegedly sexually assaulted the woman and at one point reportedly climbed on the table.
The woman said she told him ‘no’ and moved away and that Nelson then got off the table and said ‘OK.’ She said she was in a state of shock and disconnection, realizing she was alone in the building with Nelson.
Nelson returned to ‘saying regular massage stuff’ then left the room for her to get dressed, but returned before she had finished putting her clothes on, police said. He asked if she had any questions and the woman replied ‘Yeah, do you do that with all your clients?’
‘Oh yeah well definitely not,’ Nelson allegedly responded.
Nelson the congratulated her on becoming a foster parent, wished her luck and said he hoped he helped her relax because she deserved it, according to the complaint.
The woman said she gave a tip she had set aside as normal because she wanted to make a safe exit. According to police, Nelson subsequently sent her a text message and Facebook invitation, and while she was speaking to police he called her phone.
Nelson was charged with two felony counts of sexual assault, one felony count aggravated indecent assault and one misdemeanor count of indecent assault.
He was arraigned on Monday night before District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker, who denied bail on the grounds that Nelson has no current residence and allegedly presents a public safety concern. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
