MIAMI – A woman who claims she was sexually battered by a Coconut Grove massage therapist took the stand Tuesday and described the incident to the jury.
"And then he, like, brushed my private area," testified the 39-year-old woman, who Local 10 News has not identified because of the nature of the crime.
She said the deep tissue massage she received at the hands of Victor Antonio Sanchez left her feeling afraid and violated.
"I told him, 'Hey, what are you doing,'" the woman testified. "And he told me, he apologized again. He said that he was sorry."
The alleged incident happened in February at the Tiano Salon and Spa. The woman claims she was hoping for some relief from her sciatic nerve pain.
Things started well, but then she said Sanchez brushed her private parts with his hands twice, both times claiming it was an accident.
She said there was no mistaking his intentions when she turned over on the table.
"I'm laying on the bed with my eyes closed and what I feel next is his mouth on my vagina," she testified.
Sanchez is charged with sexual battery. He denies most of the allegations, although after his arrest he admitted to police during his videotaped interrogation that he did kiss the woman before she left.
"You said your legs were not fully closed at this time, right," a public defender asked the woman during cross examination.
The woman was asked why she didn't leave when Sanchez touched her inappropriately the first time, why she didn't tell the person at the front desk what happened and why she tipped Sanchez before she left.
"He was looking at me," she testified. "I was extremely afraid and nervous and I didn't know what he's capable of."
Two other women who claim Sanchez touched them inappropriately too also testified for the state. They did not file criminal charges against him though.
The spa is facing a civil lawsuit by the alleged victims who claim managers knew about prior complaints against Sanchez but continued to employ him.
Testimony will resume Wednesday. It's unclear if Sanchez will testify in his own defense.
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