By: Jeff Sommes
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced today that the New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy (“Board”) has permanently revoked the license of a North Jersey massage therapist amid allegations he engaged in inappropriate and unwanted sexual contact with female clients during massage sessions at two separate workplaces.
Pedro “Chris” Castillo is permanently barred from working as a massage therapist in New Jersey under an agreement he entered into with the Board to resolve allegations that he engaged in inappropriate conduct with clients during massage sessions at a multidisciplinary chiropractic, physical therapy, and massage practice in Wayne and at a spa in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“No one should ever have to fear being sexually exploited by a massage therapist. Individuals who seek massage therapy should be able to trust they will be treated with dignity and respect – nothing less,” said Attorney General Davenport.
“My office will hold accountable anyone who exploits that trust and puts clients in grave danger by taking advantage of them sexually while they are at their most vulnerable.”
“Misconduct by massage therapists is a profound violation of their ethical and professional responsibilities,” saidJeremy Hollander, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs.
“To ensure client safety and protect the integrity of New Jersey’s massage therapy industry, we will continue to investigate and root out this reprehensible conduct.”
According to a Consent Order filed with the Board, multiple females, including a then-nineteen-year-old client, alleged that Castillo inappropriately exposed their intimate body parts by improperly draping the privacy sheet over them, touched their intimate body parts in a sexual manner, rubbed his private parts against clients’ bodies, and, in one case, solicited sexual contact from them.
Specifically, Castillo inappropriately exposed their intimate body parts; intentionally and inappropriately touched several clients’ buttocks, breasts and vaginas; and in one case solicited sexual contact by placing a client’s hand on his erect penis.
The Board found that Castillo violated New Jersey’s law governing professional conduct by, among other things, engaging in gross negligence that endangered the health and safety of his clients, repeated acts of negligence, and professional misconduct. 
The Board further found that Castillo violated Board rules prohibiting sexual misconduct by a massage therapist.
To resolve the matter, Castillo will permanently surrender his license to practice massage therapy in New Jersey, with no possibility to reapply for licensure in the future.