Massage therapist gets nearly 5 years in prison for sex assaults ... - MLive.com

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KALAMAZOO, MI -- An Oshtemo Township massage therapist degraded his patients "in the most despicable of ways" when he sexually assaulted them, a judge said Monday.

Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Judge Paul J. Bridenstine sentenced Daniel Armand Lockett, 37, to 57 months to 15 years in prison, for third-degree criminal sexual conduct and 12 months to 2 years for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, to be served concurrently.

The charges stem from crimes Lockett committed while massaging patients at his business, Unity Integrated Wellness & Fitness LLC of Oshtemo Township.

Bridenstine called Lockett's actions "inexcusable, reprehensible, disgusting."

"Massage therapy, there is a bright line of authority and you traveled way over that line," Bridenstine said. "These multiple women will continue to suffer, suffer greatly due to your contemptible behavior. Further that suffering has spilled over to their respective families, as those that are close to them hurt tremendously as well."

Lockett pleaded guilty May 19 to two of the 10 criminal sexual conduct charges against him. Lockett pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. In exchange for his plea, one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and six counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct were dropped.

Third-degree criminal sexual conduct involves penetration and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involves touching using force or coercion.

Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Reisterer said Lockett sexually assaulted at least nine patients and took more than 31 reports of Lockett's conduct dating back to 2014.

"The conduct with each and every one of the assaults is consistent and remarkable in its consistency," Reisterer said.

Massage from therapist charged with sex assault 'just felt creepy'

Reisterer said Lockett appears to show no remorse or concern for the people he has violated.

"Either he's such a narcissist that he could not see what his behavior does to others, or he's going to be a serial predator for the rest of his life," Reisterer said.

Two women testified at Lockett's sentencing, describing their assaults and how their lives have been affected by Lockett's crimes. MLive is not identifying the victims because of the nature of the crime.

One woman, who wore an orange scarf that matched scarves worn by about a dozen supporters in the audience, said Lockett's assault brought flashbacks of sexual assault she endured as a child. The woman said she reported the assault to police, but did not tell her close friends for several months because she was ashamed.

"In this moment I am not ashamed anymore," the woman said. "I am opening my mouth and letting the words fill the air. I'm done carrying it and I'm giving it to you. You ought to be ashamed of yourself for sexually assaulting my body. Shame on you. Shame on you."

The woman said she struggles with intimacy with her husband, feels sad that she's not more available to family and friends, and lies in bed crying without knowing why. She said she can feel the stress she carries in her body because of the assault.

"You had no right to violate my body in such a grotesque and violent way," the woman said. "How dare you. You had no right to do that to me."

She said Lockett deserves to be punished.

"There is no victory in this for me," the woman said. "Watching you be taken away in handcuffs brings me no joy. I am sad for you and your family. Was it worth it?"

Another woman said she was looking forward to the relaxing massage she bought on Groupon but left Lockett's business feeling confused, in shock and dirty. She said she called a family member who teaches massage therapy to ask whether Lockett's actions -- massaging her breasts and massaging too far up her legs -- were legitimate therapeutic exercises.

"He seemed so nice," she said in court Monday. "He said he was a Christian man with a Christian family, involved in his church. He talked about his wonderful wife and boys. He's been doing this for 12 years so I thought he must have been careless."

She said she realizes now Lockett was grooming her and that she was purposefully manipulated. She said she since has been unable to unwind or relax, is hyper vigilant and feels like her personal sense of security has been stolen. She said she becomes angry at herself for letting the assault happen, and said she now is afraid to be home alone at night.

"This assault was not violent physically but it was certainly violent emotionally," she said.

When it was his turn to speak, Lockett apologized and said he never meant to cause harm.

"I do take responsibility for any actions that were unprofessional on my end as a professional licensed massage therapist I know that's part of my duty to do no harm to any of my clients, and obviously I have," Lockett said. "I take full responsibility for that. With me taking full responsibility of those things, I'm asking that this court hear my plea once again to be lenient not only in sentencing, but to look at all of the facts that are presented to you and hear me out to know that the massage therapy license that I got 13 years ago, I didn't take it lightly."

In his written statement to the court, Lockett called said his actions were negligent behavior due to haste, being overworked or misunderstanding what his patients wanted, according to Bridenstine. Lockett said the charges have affected his home situation as well.

"These women had it thrust upon them, over their free will," Bridenstine said. "Your home situation and the challenges that they face, you caused. You created it. There is absolutely no comparison when it comes to the home situation. I don't find what you did was careless, inadvertent or a simple case of unprofessionalism. It was intentional, assaultive, harmful and criminal. For that you deserve to be severely punished."

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