Masseuse at Rancho Cucamonga spa arrested, accused of sexual battery

By Marissa Wenzke

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RANCHO CUCAMONGA, California (KCAL/KCBS) — Law enforcement officials are searching for other possible victims of a certified masseuse accused of sexual battery while working at a spa in Rancho Cucamonga.

Charles Oliver Russell, a 56-year-old resident of Riverside, allegedly “sexually touched a customer inappropriately” while working at Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release. He was booked into West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of sexual battery and false imprisonment, sheriff’s officials said.

Russell, who sheriff’s officials have described as a certified masseuse, was arrested on a warrant after investigators “substantiated” the allegations, the news release said.

No other details were given by the department about that investigation.

However, based on information collected by investigators, they believe there could be other potential victims. The department has released a photo of Russell to the public as they continue to investigate.

Anyone who may have been a victim or has other information is urged to contact Deputy M. Gonzales of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Rancho Cucamonga Station at 909-477-2800. Those wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME(27463) or visit wetip.com.

This article was updated on June 20, 2024 with a statement from Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa:

“Hand & Stone has an uncompromising commitment to creating and maintaining a safe and respectful environment for its guests and service providers. When the franchise owner of the Rancho Cucamonga, California Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa learned of the allegations brought against Charles Russell in May 2024, the massage therapist’s employment was immediately suspended, and he was removed from the schedule.

The Rancho Cucamonga Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa is an independently owned and operated franchise location. Franchisees adhere to a rigorous spa safety program designed to prioritize the safety of their guests and service providers. All franchise locations are trained on strict hiring and screening tools, therapist training and prevention measures and reporting and investigation policies.

Additionally, all Hand & Stone guests are presented with a service orientation form for each visit which includes information about our customer bill of rights and our attention button, which is intended to be used if the guest or the therapist need assistance. These are core parts of our spa processes, as they aim to provide a safe and professional experience to all our customers.”