Update: Former Rogers Massage Therapist Arrested for Sexual Assault Surrenders License

ROGERS, AR (KNWA) – A local massage therapist facing sexual assault charges has surrendered his license.

Christopher Hughes, 36, is accused of exposing himself to a woman during a massage.

According to the Arkansas Attorney General’s (AG) office, Hughes surrendered his massage therapist license after the woman filed a petition with the AG’s office.

Police say the sexual assault happened in January at the Massage Envy Spa in Rogers.

Hughes is currently out on bond.

ROGERS, AR (KNWA) – A Rogers massage therapist is facing sexual assault charges after being accused of exposing himself to a woman mid-massage.

Police said it happened in January at the Massage Envy Spa.

Debbie Miranda was a client at the spa for two years until she said she was assaulted by Christopher James Hughes, 36.  

“I think that’s the most frustrating part for me is to know that there were other victims and it should have never made it to the point where it happened to me,” said Miranda.

According to the police report, during a massage in January, Miranda said Hughes exposed his genitals and rubbed them across her hand as he whispered “Relax.” Miranda reported the assault to police four days later.

“A lot starts flashing through your mind about, “why me?” and “what did I do?” she said.

“I started thinking about it more and more, and I realized that this was not my fault. I did not do this and that I was not going to be a victim, but that I was going to stand up and make sure that something happens so that he cannot do this to anyone else.”

Detectives began contacting clients and employees of Massage Envy and uncovered four sexual assault claims against Hughes.

The franchise owner, Mike Harris, was aware of two of those claims. Police said Harris told officers the claims were investigated internally– but found to be unsubstantiated.

“When you have two or three other people that are saying, ‘Yeah, this exact same thing happened to me,’ then that starts leading credibility to your statement and then that goes and plays into the entire charging system,” said Rogers Police Department Officer Keith Foster. 

A representative with Massage Envy corporate office said they have, “Zero tolerance policy and that any allegation of inappropriate conduct be thoroughly investigated by the franchisee and properly handled. We are currently investigating whether the franchisee at issue in this matter complied with our policies.”

“I hope that Massage Envy will stand up and realize that their policies and procedures need to definitely be looked at,” said Miranda. 

Miranda believes this wouldn’t have happened to her if the spa had simply followed their zero-tolerance policy.

A representative with the company confirms Hughes no longer works for the Rogers Massage Envy Spa.

The State Board of Massage Therapy was contacted to see if Hughes is still a licensed masseuse, but they declined to comment.

However, Hughes is still listed as a licensed masseuse on the board’s website.