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Were you or a loved one sexually assaulted by Berhane Tafari Oliver, a massage therapist at Healing Hands of Judah in Boynton Beach, Florida? Oliver has been arrested and charged for sexually assaulting a customer. Our experienced massage spa sexual assault lawyers are here to help.
You are not alone. We understand that sexual assault can raise a storm of painful emotions, from anger and grief to shock and shame. These are all natural reactions to trauma. Please know that you did nothing wrong. This was not your fault.
Our dedicated legal team has helped countless sexual assault survivors take important steps on the path to recovery. Some assault survivors may be eligible to pursue justice and financial compensation by filing a private civil lawsuit. Our lawyers can help.
A Boynton Beach, Florida massage therapist has been arrested for sexually assaulting a client at Healing Hands of Judah, a massage spa at 112 South Federal Highway. Berhane Tafari Oliver, 38, is accused of sexually assaulting a customer during a massage session. He has been charged with one count of sexual assault, the Palm Beach Post reports.
The alleged assault took place on September 6, 2018. A 29-year-old woman reported to Boynton Beach law enforcement that Oliver had touched her inappropriately during a massage session at Healing Hands of Judah.
The victim told officers that, during a 90-minute massage, Oliver placed his hand beneath her underwear to touch her vaginal area. She says Oliver also penetrated her vagina with his fingers. The woman says that she immediately told Oliver he was being appropriate, at which point he stopped touching her and apologized.
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Five days later, police conducted a controlled call, listening in as the victim asked the massage therapist why he had assaulted her. Oliver reportedly apologized, saying, “I thought you wanted me to. I misunderstood.” The victim then set up a meeting between herself and Oliver. Boynton Beach authorities waited for him at Healing Hands and Judah and arrested him.
Police say Oliver has now admitted to touching the woman inappropriately, telling officers that “misread” her behavior. Sources suggest that Oliver also wrote a letter of apology to his victim at the time. Records from the Florida Board of Massage Therapy show that Oliver has been a registered massage therapist since 2011.
This isn’t the first time Berhane Tafari Oliver has found himself in legal trouble. In 2015, Oliver pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence, after being accused of strangling the mother of his children. The victim told officers she feared for her life.
He was fined by the Florida Department of Health in May 2018 for failing to notify regulators of his 2015 plea agreement. A search of the Florida Board of Massage Therapy records shows that Oliver’s massage license was recently suspended because he failed to pay child support.
We believe, and we believe your story deserves to be told. We understand that the prospect of coming forward can seem terrifying, but making your voice heard has immense benefits. Sexual assault need not define your life. You have the strength inside to move past this.
Learn more about your legal options today in a free, confidential consultation. There’s no risk to reaching out for a helping hand. You can find more information on your powerful legal rights at no cost and no obligation. Just contact our compassionate attorneys now.