Another Massage Envy employee allegedly sexually assaulted client, forced oral sex in Md. -...

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According to police, 28-year-old Anton Zaitsev forced the woman to perform oral sex, groped her and asked, "is this what you want?" (Photo: Montgomery County police)

OLNEY, Md. (ABC7) —
She purchased a full-body massage, but midway through the relaxing reprieve, a Massage Envy masseur allegedly forced her to perform sex acts within the tranquil treatment room.

Montgomery County Police have since arrested and charged massage therapist Anton Zaitsev, 28, with second and fourth-degree sex offense.

According to charging documents, the female victim had received massages from Zaitsev on a number of prior occasions at the Olney location, and had, in turn, developed a professional rapport. However, August 28 was different… very different.

While the woman lay face down on the massage table, Zaitsev allegedly caressed the most intimate parts of her body. He then reportedly forced the woman to perform oral sex on him – at one point asking, "Is this what you want?"

In a state of shock and anger, the woman replied, "no." That refusal seemingly upset Zaitsev who declared the massage was over and stormed out of the room.

The woman immediately notified the Massage Envy receptionist about what had just taken place, and then drove to a nearby police station to file a report. Investigators later collected evidence from both the woman and the spa.

“Oh my gosh," said one man who’d just purchased a Massage Envy gift card as a Christmas present for his wife upon learning the news. “You can’t really blame the company for one creep. You know what I mean? But it is concerning.”

Massage Envy would not say if it had received prior complaints about Zaitsev's behavior -or- what its hiring practices (such as criminal background checks) consist of. It also did not share what accommodations (if any) it made for the alleged victim. Instead, the company, which has around 1200 franchised locations and 1.65 million massage members, emailed this written statement:

"The reported conduct is horrific and unacceptable, and we applaud the client for reporting it. This therapist is no longer employed by the franchisee, and the franchisee will cooperate with law enforcement in its investigation of the incident. Safety in the treatment room has been – and always will be – paramount, and we believe our recently announced Commitment to Safety defines a clear path forward that will create meaningful change to ensure the safety and well-being of members and guests."

According to a November BuzzFeed expose, more than 180 women have reported sexual assaults at Massage Envy locations nationwide. In fact, a local woman made headlines when she filed a $25-million lawsuit against the company and its Tenleytown franchise after masseur Habtamu Gebreselassie assaulted her in September. At least three other women have since come forward claiming Gebreselassie inappropriately touched them too. The 24-year-old pleaded guilty earlier this month and is awaiting sentencing. Prison time is expected.

Zaitsev has lived at his father's home along the 17900 block of Hazelcrest Drive in Gaithersburg for the better part of his life. Two cars were parked in the driveway Friday morning, but no one answered the front door.

“He’s just a quiet young man. He walks the dogs, no drama. So I am quite surprised if this is in fact true," neighbor Saulter Barksdale stated.

ABC7 reached Zaitsev's defense attorney, Walter Neighbors, by telephone. Neighbors simply stated, "no comment."

Per court records, Zaitsev worked at Massage Envy for five years, but is now a "self-employed massage therapist." Despite the pending criminal charges, the Maryland Department of Health's online database lists Zaitsev as an active "Registered Massage Practitioner." The database further states Zaitsev received his license in June 2011; a license that does not expire until October 2018.

Zaitsev is currently out on bond. He is scheduled to have a four-day trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court come April and faces up to 21 years in prison.


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