5 men claim sexual assault at Winter Park massage business - WESH

[Greg Fox]

Five men have now come forward alleging they were sexually assaulted by the owner of a Winter Park massage business, according to attorneys representing them. They accuse Ronel Michael Gutierrez Galvis, owner of Romich Massage and Spa on Minnesota Avenue, of performing or attempting to perform sex acts on them while they were on a massage table and, according to their statements, paying solely for therapeutic massage treatment. Galvis is charged with sexual battery and other charges in one case and is free on $17,500 bond pending trial. Since our initial report, four more men have come forward. Two of the alleged victims have spoken exclusively with WESH 2 Investigates. In the most recent interview, a man who wishes to be identified only as “J.F.” said he was attacked on Jan. 2. He recalled, “He looked at me (afterward) and he tried to make it like it was my fault. He said, ‘Why didn't you tell me to stop?’ I said, I did, three times.”J.F. says that at no time did he invite sexual contact. The details of his alleged assault are too graphic to share, but he said at one point, “I noticed his clothes were on the floor, and after his clothes were on the floor, he got up on top of me and was completely laying on me naked. And then he started trying to massage my front, my groin area, and I told him stop, please stop.”J.F. says he grabbed his clothes and left the business. Another man we're identifying as "B.F." says he was assaulted Sept. 20, 2024. He told WESH 2 Investigates, “It was a really horrible thing that happened.” After the initial complaint against Gutierrez Galvis by B.F. Winter Park police arranged for him to call Gutierrez Galvis on his personal phone. The conversation was recorded. According to the police report, B.F. said, "You were touching me inappropriately. Why?"Gutierrez Galvis: "Well, it was a stupid thing to do." B.F.: "It made me feel really uncomfortable."Gutierrez Galvis: "This is something that never happened before, so I apologize for that."B.F.: "What made you think you could take my underwear off and (touch me inappropriately)?"Gutierrez Galvis: "Yeah, I can't explain this. I feel bad." Attorney Thomas Fighter represents most of the alleged victims, including J.F. and B.F., and wants Gutierrez's bond revoked, adding, “I don't think someone like this, with multiple victims, especially given this betrayal of trust, should be allowed to be free in our community among us.” The state Health Department has suspended Gutierrez Galvis's massage therapy license and may seek "permanent revocation" for "sexual misconduct in the practice of a health care profession," according to records obtained by WESH 2 Investigates. Romich massage and spa is closed. A phone message when you call the main number says gift cards will be honored at a later date. Winter Park police have provided at least one sexual assault kit from one of the men to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in this ongoing case, and are working with the Ninth Circuit State Attorney’s Office to obtain phone and business records from Romich Massage and Spa.

WINTER PARK, Fla. —

Five men have now come forward alleging they were sexually assaulted by the owner of a Winter Park massage business, according to attorneys representing them.

They accuse Ronel Michael Gutierrez Galvis, owner of Romich Massage and Spa on Minnesota Avenue, of performing or attempting to perform sex acts on them while they were on a massage table and, according to their statements, paying solely for therapeutic massage treatment. Galvis is charged with sexual battery and other charges in one case and is free on $17,500 bond pending trial. Since our initial report, four more men have come forward.

Two of the alleged victims have spoken exclusively with WESH 2 Investigates. In the most recent interview, a man who wishes to be identified only as “J.F.” said he was attacked on Jan. 2. He recalled, “He looked at me (afterward) and he tried to make it like it was my fault. He said, ‘Why didn't you tell me to stop?’ I said, I did, three times.”

J.F. says that at no time did he invite sexual contact. The details of his alleged assault are too graphic to share, but he said at one point, “I noticed his clothes were on the floor, and after his clothes were on the floor, he got up on top of me and was completely laying on me naked. And then he started trying to massage my front, my groin area, and I told him stop, please stop.”

J.F. says he grabbed his clothes and left the business.

Another man we're identifying as "B.F." says he was assaulted Sept. 20, 2024. He told WESH 2 Investigates, “It was a really horrible thing that happened.”

After the initial complaint against Gutierrez Galvis by B.F. Winter Park police arranged for him to call Gutierrez Galvis on his personal phone. The conversation was recorded.

According to the police report, B.F. said, "You were touching me inappropriately. Why?"

Gutierrez Galvis: "Well, it was a stupid thing to do."

B.F.: "It made me feel really uncomfortable."

Gutierrez Galvis: "This is something that never happened before, so I apologize for that."

B.F.: "What made you think you could take my underwear off and (touch me inappropriately)?"

Gutierrez Galvis: "Yeah, I can't explain this. I feel bad."

Attorney Thomas Fighter represents most of the alleged victims, including J.F. and B.F., and wants Gutierrez's bond revoked, adding, “I don't think someone like this, with multiple victims, especially given this betrayal of trust, should be allowed to be free in our community among us.”

The state Health Department has suspended Gutierrez Galvis's massage therapy license and may seek "permanent revocation" for "sexual misconduct in the practice of a health care profession," according to records obtained by WESH 2 Investigates.

Romich massage and spa is closed. A phone message when you call the main number says gift cards will be honored at a later date.

Winter Park police have provided at least one sexual assault kit from one of the men to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in this ongoing case, and are working with the Ninth Circuit State Attorney’s Office to obtain phone and business records from Romich Massage and Spa.