Massage therapist Elias Marcelo Ergas of Miami Beach, Florida was arrested Wednesday after several women accused him of inappropriately touching them.
Ergas, 50, faces charges of sexual battery and misdemeanor battery. He was ordered held on $15,000 bond. The press did not name an attorney for him.
According to the police report, Ergas allegedly provided clients with massages for lymph node therapy at his office in the 1400 block of 20th Street and Bay Road. In the last month, three women have gone to the police claiming Ergas touched them inappropriately.
The women told investigators that Ergas allegedly massaged them in the groin area in order to release toxins from their lymph nodes, but he went too far, the report said.
The victims told police that their sessions were on April 12, May 9, and May 13, respectively. Two of the victims said Ergas penetrated them with his fingers. He reportedly poured oil on his hands before massaging the exterior of their vaginas and then digitally penetrating them.
The most recent victim was eight months pregnant. She told police that Ergas massaged her groin and pelvic region during a session in May. This was her last treatment with Ergas; she had gone to him for massages with no issues since March.
Ergas has reportedly denied inappropriately touching any of the women.
Police believe there may be more victims and they’re asking anyone with information to come forward. A spokesperson for the Miami Beach Police Department released the following statement to the press:
“We feel there may be additional victims out there who recognize this man who possibly received services from this man and we are urging if you feel you’ve been victimized by this man to contact Miami beach police immediately so we’re able to investigate.”
Sexual battery cases involving professionals and people under their care aren’t uncommon in Miami. Last month, a mental health technician at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach was arrested for inappropriately touching a patient.
Christian Vidal, 42, faces one count of sexual battery. He is free on $10,000 bond. It is unclear if he has acquired an attorney.
According to Miami police, the alleged incident occurred on November 5, 2018. The victim told investigators that when Vidal went into her room to check on her, he allegedly touched her breast and then licked his fingers before digitally penetrating her.
The victim informed hospital workers about what happened and police were called. Rape kit evidence was collected at Jackson Memorial.
Vidal agreed to give police a statement. He denied the allegations and said that he only went into the victim’s room to give her a TV remote. He purportedly agreed to provide police with a DNA sample.
The sample Vidal provided reportedly matched the sample gathered during the rape kit examination, and that led to his arrest on May 22.
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Source: 6.20.19 Miami beach massage therapist accused of sexual battery.pdf