A Pasco man accused of second-degree rape while working as a massage therapist had his license suspended for five years by the state.
Juan P. Ochoa's suspension is the culmination of unprofessional conduct charges filed in summer 2012 by the state agency that licenses massage therapists. The noncriminal charges were based on allegations that Ochoa had unwanted sexual contact with two female patients.
Ochoa agreed to the five-year suspension rather than proceed with a hearing, documents said.
He also was charged criminally in Benton County with second-degree rape. He pleaded guilty Jan. 14 to fourth-degree assault with a sexual motivation, a gross misdemeanor, documents said.
Ochoa was arrested in May 2012 after a patient reported that he sexually assaulted her during a massage in April at Columbia Spinal Rehabilitation Center in Kennewick where he worked.
Police told the Herald at the time that they had received a similar report from a patient of Ochoa's in 2008, but the investigation resulted in no charges being filed.
Documents detailing the unprofessional conduct charges allege that Ochoa on April 18 had an appointment with the victim, referred to as Patient A, for a massage session to treat a groin injury.
Documents said the patient thought he was positioning her to have sex, and that he took her hand and put it on his penis, but she pulled away. He apologized and reportedly said he had gotten carried away.
Patient A later went to Kennewick General Hospital, where doctors found possible signs of a recent sexual assault, documents said.
An earlier patient reported she went to Ochoa in September and October 2008.
Documents said Ochoa told her that he was having intimacy problems with his wife and tried to put her hand on his penis, but the patient refused.
Unprofessional conduct documents can be viewed online by clicking "Look up a health care provider" on the Department of Health website at www.doh.wa.gov. To file a complaint call 360-236-4700.
-- Michelle Dupler: 582-1543; mdupler@tricityherald.com;
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