Sentencing has been set for a former massage therapist who was recently found guilty of sexual assault.
A Yavapai County jury found 49-year-old Aaron Frank Orrico, of Rimrock, guilty of three counts of sexual assault against a trio of women for offenses that took place in 2016 while he was working as an independent massage therapist at local spas in Sedona.
His sentencing has been set for April 7 in the Yavapai County Superior Court before Judge Michael R. Bluff. He faces nearly 16 years in prison.
“It is extremely important for victims of sexual offenses to speak up and report,” Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk said in a press release. “Predators often count on victims remaining silent. The courage of these women in pressing charges ensures others will not have to endure what they did.”
According to the press release, on Feb. 18, 2016, a woman visited a Sedona area spa for a massage before she ended her vacation and flew back home to the east coast.
Orrico was her massage therapist. During the woman’s massage, Orrico reportedly touched and rubbed her genitalia. The woman reported this incident and Orrico was suspended from working at the spa.
A second woman to come forward was a repeat customer at a Sedona area spa where she was receiving massages for a shoulder injury. On June 7, 2016, Orrico was her massage therapist and reportedly touched her genitalia repeatedly even although she redirected him to her injured shoulder multiple times. After this incident was reported, Orrico was fired.
On Nov. 13, 2016, a third victim visited a different Sedona area spa for a deep tissue massage. On that day, Orrico was her massage therapist and reportedly touched and rubbed her genitalia. What was first thought to be an accidental touch was confirmed to be sexual by Orrico’s sexual comments.
Each of the victims separately filed police reports with the Sedona Police Department. After an investigation, Orrico was charged with three counts of sexual assault.
Sedona police arrested Orrico on Nov. 16, 2016, and charged him with several counts of sexual assault and sexual abuse.
Civil Trial
Late last summer Orrico was ordered to pay $4.93 million after a jury found him guilty of sexual misconduct against two women. The money was awarded following a civil trial in Yavapai County Superior Court.
The jury awarded a Massachusetts woman $300,000 in compensatory damages and a Rimrock woman $630,000. The jury also awarded $4 million in punitive damages to the two women.
In handwritten complaints to the Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy, the two plaintiffs in the case wrote about their experience when being massaged by Orrico.
“After flipping over onto my back, Mr. Orrico began to rub areas on my body underneath the blanket covering, including my stomach and between my breasts,” part of the Massachusetts woman’s complaint reads regarding the Feb. 18, 2016 incident. “He then began to uncover those areas on my body. Mr. Orrico then put his hand on my pubic mound and in between my [genitalia]. I said, ‘no thanks, I’m all set.’ Mr. Orrico re-covered my body and whispered in my ear, ‘I hope I didn’t offend you.’ He left the room. I dressed and exited the room. Mr. Orrico stopped me in the hallway and told me, ‘I hope I didn’t cross any boundaries.’”
The Rimrock woman wrote about similar circumstances from her June 7, 2016 experience.
“He continued after I let him know I was uncomfortable,” she wrote. “He kept talking, telling me he was only trying to make me feel good.”
In a notarized letter dated March 2, 2016 to the Board of Massage Therapy, Orrico wrote that he did not make any inappropriate comments, suggestions or physical contact of a sexual nature toward the Massachusetts woman.
“I maintained professional draping standards the entire time, as I do with any client I have ever treated,” he wrote. “I did not in any way make contact with [client’s] genitalia or even anything close. I am at a loss to understand the complaint that she made to the reception prior to leaving the building.”
The board found that Orrico’s actions “constitute sexual activity” in violation of the law and were grounds for discipline. His license was revoked.
