California Masseuse Accused Of Sexually Assaulting At Least Three Women As Old As 77
July 18 2019, Published 11:59 p.m. ET
A 43-year-old licensed massage therapist has been charged with raping a 77-year-old Laguna Woods, Calif. woman while serving as her in-home caregiver.
Russell Bernardino is also accused of sexually assaulting two other woman who had hired him as a masseuse.
He was arrested Wednesday, July 17 by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims detail and faces one felony count of forcible rape, one felony count of sexual penetration by foreign object and force, and four misdemeanor counts of sexual battery.
Bernardino has been a licensed massage therapist for approximately three years and worked at several businesses, including Massage Envy.
In April, a 36-year-old woman claimed she was sexually assaulted by Bernardino while receiving a massage. A month later, a 71-year-old female reported she had also been sexually assaulted at a Massage Envy by Bernardino.
A 77-year-old woman also reported Bernardino raped her, while serving as her licensed home health care provider in March 2018.
Bernardino faces a maximum sentence of 21 years if convicted of all charges, and investigators are searching for any additional victims of the masseuse.
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