Massage therapist sexually assaulted woman during session at SA-area spa, suit says -...

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By Caleb Downs, mySanAntonio.com

Updated 11:52 am, Friday, May 4, 2018

Photo: Bexar County Jail


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Arturo Chamberlain is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a Leon Springs spa in 2016.


Arturo Chamberlain is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a Leon Springs spa in 2016.

Photo: Bexar County Jail

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San Antonio has seen shocking witness testimony, crime headlines and more so far in 2018.

Here are some of the biggest stories that shocked the Alamo City recently.


San Antonio has seen shocking witness testimony, crime headlines and more so far in 2018.

Here are some of the biggest stories that shocked the Alamo City recently.

Photo: Ron Cortes/Ronald Cortes

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Dismemberment trial: The murder trial of Gabriel Moreno, accused of killing Jose Luis Menchaca, began on Feb. 26, 2018. Menchaca was allegedly beaten with baseball bats, dismembered and grilled on a barbecue

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Photo: Ron Cortes /Ronald Cortes

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San Antonio teen beating: A San Antonio 16-year-old who refused an arranged marriage endured six months of beatings at the hands of her parents before running away from her San Antonio home, according to court

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Photo: Bexar County Jail

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Animal sacrifice unveiled at San Antonio home: Eleven people were arrested on charges of animal cruelty on Friday, March 16, 2018 involving what one official described as “some sort of unknown ritual” involving dismembered goats and chickens. Officials have not mentioned Santería, but those arrested were reportedly practitioners of that religion. All were released on bond.

More: S.A. animal sacrifice was Santería practice, but was it illegal?

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Animal sacrifice unveiled at San Antonio home: Eleven people were arrested on charges of animal cruelty on Friday, March 16, 2018 involving what one official described as “some sort of unknown ritual”

... more
Photo: /Staff

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Uresti conviction: Texas State Sen. Carlos Uresti was convicted on all 11 counts in his five-week criminal fraud trial ending Feb. 22, 2018. Uresti was found guilty of defrauding investors in the now-defunct

... more
Photo: Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

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Salacious Uresti testimony: Denise Cantu, a Harlingen woman whom Uresti helped obtain a $2.5 million legal settlement over the deaths of two of her children in a 2010 vehicle wreck, told jurors that the lawmaker became her financial adviser, confidante, friend and eventually lover. She told jurors Feb. 1, 2018, that she and Uresti would have sex in his law office.

More: Uresti’s alleged ex-mistress admits to relationship with his business partner

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Salacious Uresti testimony: Denise Cantu, a Harlingen woman whom Uresti helped obtain a $2.5 million legal settlement over the deaths of two of her children in a 2010 vehicle wreck, told jurors that the

... more
Photo: Kin Man Hui, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

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Julie Mott trail: A jury awarded Sharlotte and Timothy Mott $8 million on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018 after they found Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries negligent in the loss of their daughter’s body. Mott died Aug. 8, 2015 and was to be cremated Aug. 15, 2015. The next day, employees discovered her body missing from a damaged casket.

More: Couple get $8 million for loss of daughter’s body from San Antonio funeral home

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Julie Mott trail: A jury awarded Sharlotte and Timothy Mott $8 million on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018 after they found Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries negligent in the loss of their daughter’s body.

... more
Photo: Mark D. Wilson/San Antonio Express-News

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Woman held captive in Stone Oak home: What started as a theft investigation quickly became a violent sex assault case. Boshoy Mina Elkhaliny, was arrested on Jan. 8, 2018 for allegedly beating, raping and

... more
Photo: Bishoy Elkhaliny

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Cop killer trial: Shaun Puente was found guilty on March 21, 2018 for fatally shooting San Antonio Police Department Officer Robert Deckard during a highway chase in Atascosa County on Dec. 8, 2013 that started after Puente, according to witnesses, committed two armed robberies in San Antonio.

More: Death penalty testimony paints violent portrait of officer’s killer

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Cop killer trial: Shaun Puente was found guilty on March 21, 2018 for fatally shooting San Antonio Police Department Officer Robert Deckard during a highway chase in Atascosa County on Dec. 8, 2013 that started

... more
Photo: John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News

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Man cleared in River Walk death: A judge issued a ruling Thursday, March 8, 2018, that prevented a manslaughter trial of Mark Daniel Lewis (left), accused of causing transgender woman Kenne McFadden to drown along the River Walk last year. After the judge ruled the evidence was insufficient, the victim’s mother collapsed in the courtroom.

More: Man accused in death of trans woman won’t face trial

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Man cleared in River Walk death: A judge issued a ruling Thursday, March 8, 2018, that prevented a manslaughter trial of Mark Daniel Lewis (left), accused of causing transgender woman Kenne McFadden to drown

... more

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Uresti divorce: A week after state Sen. Carlos Uresti’s conviction in a salacious trial that included vivid testimony about him carrying on an extramarital relationship, his wife filed for divorce. Lleanna Uresti cited “adultery” among the reasons for seeking to end the couple’s nearly six-year union, according to the petition filed March 2, 2018.

More: Uresti’s wife files for divorce following salacious trial

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Uresti divorce: A week after state Sen. Carlos Uresti’s conviction in a salacious trial that included vivid testimony about him carrying on an extramarital relationship, his wife filed for divorce. Lleanna

... more
Photo: Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

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Massage therapist sexually assaulted woman during session at S.A.-area spa, suit says


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A San Antonio massage therapist and the spa he worked for have been sued by a woman claiming she was sexually assaulted during a session in 2016.


In a civil lawsuit filed Wednesday in Bexar County, the plaintiff, identified only as Jane Doe, claims she received a massage from Arturo Chamberlain at the Massage Heights Leon Springs location in the 23000 block of Interstate 10 Frontage Road on July 12, 2016.


Chamberlain is accused of sexually assaulting Doe during the massage session by "leaning over Jane Doe's body, placing his hands on her breasts, stomach and hips and then moving his hands towards Doe's pubic area."


RELATED: SAPD: Drug dealer stabs woman after she declined to buy drugs at North Side bar


The plaintiff pushed Chamberlain away, causing pain to her shoulder, the suit says.


After the incident, Chamberlain asked her if she enjoyed his "services," according to the suit. The plaintiff "was in shock" and tried to contact Massage Heights management to tell them what happened. When she did, they told her Chamberlain would be fired immediately, according to the lawsuit.


According to the suit, Chamberlain sexually assaulted another woman on July 13 prior to being fired. According to court records, Chamberlain began inappropriately touching a woman during a birthday massage session.


"The complainant stated that she was very upset and scared and responded spontaneously, 'If you ever do that again; I have a gun in my purse and will shoot,'" the affidavit said.


Chamberlain was arrested on a charge of sexual assault following the second alleged assault. He bailed out of jail the following day.


National franchisor Massage Heights released a statement following the alleged sexual assault, saying they have a "a zero tolerance policy against inappropriate behavior, including sexual misconduct."


"Franchisees are encouraged to conduct background and reference checks prior to hiring all licensed massage therapists," the statement read. "The local franchisee suspended the employment of its licensed massage therapist while we conduct an internal investigation of these allegations."


Chamberlain could not immediately be reached for comment on the allegations.


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According to the lawyer for the plaintiff in the civil suit filed Wednesday, Tahira Khan Merritt, Jane Doe contacted law enforcement authorities after learning another woman was sexually assaulted at the facility.


"She's very disturbed," Merritt said. "She tried to do everything possible from preventing it from happening to someone else."


According to a statement from Ashley Davidson, a spokeswoman for Massage Heights, the company was only recently made aware of the civil suit and has yet to be formally served, though they are aware of the allegations against Chamberlain.


"The licensed massage therapist was terminated by the local franchisee in July 2016 immediately after the reported incident," she said.


She said Massage Heights is taking the allegations "very seriously" and will provide additional comment once they can review the lawsuit.


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Caleb Downs is a crime reporter for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here.| cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns


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