Former Gig Harbor massage therapist charged with raping clients during sessions
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Ex-massage therapist charged with two third‑degree rapes in 2024 and a 2025.
- Alleged victims report inappropriate touching during spa massage sessions.
- Defendant pleaded not guilty; temporarily barred from practicing physical therapy.
Editor’s note: This story contains descriptions of alleged sexual assault.
A massage therapist who formerly worked at a Gig Harbor spa is accused of sexually assaulting two women during massage sessions.
Justin Michael Francis, 25, pleaded not guilty Jan. 14 in Pierce County Superior Court to two counts of third-degree rape for incidents in December 2024 and May 2025 at Serenity Spa.
Charging documents allege Francis digitally penetrated a pregnant woman on her third visit with him and touched another woman’s breast and vagina. Both alleged victims told Gig Harbor police that the acts made them freeze, and they didn’t confront him. One said she no longer feels safe going to massages alone and brings her partner.
Cashton Sessler, Francis’ defense attorney, spoke to The News Tribune on Jan. 15 in a brief phone call.
“Emphatically not guilty,” Sessler said.
The police arrested Francis on a bench warrant Jan. 13. At arraignment the afternoon of Jan. 14, Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille set bail at $500, and court records show Francis was released from the Pierce County Jail that evening. He does not have any prior criminal convictions.
Francis was ordered to remain on electronic home monitoring, and he is not allowed to practice physical therapy. However, the judge ordered that he can teach massage therapy so long as he is supervised by another staff member.
Francis reported in a pretrial services report that he is employed by the Alexandar School of Natural Therapeutics on Pacific Avenue in Tacoma. Its website states he is a spa instructor. Director of School Operations Kaylee Kaniss told The News Tribune the school could not comment on allegations or ongoing legal matters, but that Francis is suspended and not actively working with the school.
Serenity Spa told FOX 13 News that Francis was “separated” from their business for unrelated reasons before any allegations were brought to its attention. It’s unclear when that happened. The spa did not respond Jan. 15 to a request for comment.
“Patient safety is our highest priority,” CEO Megan Douglas told FOX 13. “When we became aware of an allegation involving a former employee, we immediately reported the matter to authorities and have fully cooperated with their investigation. The individual had already been separated from our business for unrelated reasons prior to any such allegation being brought to our attention.”
Francis appears to have faced some discipline when he worked at Serenity Spa. A police report included in charging papers stated that in a previous write-up, the vulnerability of leaving a client on their back during the entire session was explained to him.
Women described inappropriate touching to police
The pregnant woman Francis allegedly raped spoke to Gig Harbor police in December. According to the police report, she said she was seven months pregnant at the time of the assault and had three visits with Francis within about three months.
The first and second visits went well, but on the third visit Francis started to get “really close” to her private area, according to the police report. The woman said Francis didn’t react when he allegedly assaulted her with his finger. Afterward, she said Francis made no apology and told her that time had gotten away from him, and he had given her an extra 15 minutes.
The second alleged victim was interviewed by police in January. She reported that she began going to the spa in September 2024 and that her first visit with Francis was “amazing.” She went back about twice a month and became a member.
Prior to the day of the alleged assault, the woman said Francis had offered to go to her home to perform massages, stating it would save her money, according to the police report. She told him she wasn’t interested for a variety of reasons.
During her May 15, 2025 appointment, she was on her back while Francis massaged her. The woman reported that Francis was previously careful when he got near sensitive areas and would ask her to move her breast tissue to work along the side of that area, but on this occasion she said she felt Francis touch her right nipple. According to the police report, the woman said her breasts are never part of the massage, and there was normally a sheet covering that area.
Francis continued to work. The woman told police Francis was previously careful to get her consent when he worked around the groin area, but this time she felt his fingers swipe part of her vagina.
“[The alleged victim] stated that he made sounds during those two contacts that to her were perceived as a type of gratification,” the police report stated.
After the massage, the woman told police she removed the dark mask Francis had provided, and Francis got “right in her face” and asked if the pressure was good enough for her. The woman said this freaked her out. The next morning, she canceled all of her prebooked appointments.
Resources for victims of sexual assault
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, support is available.
- Rebuilding Hope Sexual Assault Center: 24/7 Helpline, 855-757-7273 or visit rebuildinghope.org. Rebuilding Hope offers local and confidential support in Pierce and Kitsap counties.
- National Sexual Assault Helpline: 800-656-4673 or visit rainn.org.
This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 5:30 AM.
