Highlands Ranch Massage Therapist Accused of Inappropriately Touching Clients

A Highland Ranch massage therapist and former high school coach is facing criminal charges after two clients accused him of touching them inappropriately during massages.

Michael Duran, 31, was arrested and charged with two counts of unlawful sexual contact, according to his suspension order from the Colorado Office of Massage Therapy Licensure. The state suspended Duran's massage license on April 2. He is due in court on August 28.

Duran worked at Olive Juice Beauty Bar in Highlands Ranch when he conducted the massages, according to the order. One female client reported Duran for allegedly massaging her breasts, touching her nipple and possibly exposing her genitals. A second woman accused Duran of touching her breasts, gluteal crease and the outside of her vagina, in addition to exposing one of her breasts.

"[Duran] admitted to massaging [the first] client’s breast with sexual intent," the order reads. It adds that he "admitted to massaging [the second] client’s breast tissue and that he failed to drape her breast properly causing it to be exposed."

Duran was arrested by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office on December 28. The charges specify that the alleged sexual contact was not consensual; state law also prohibits the massage of "intimate parts" in any circumstance, including the breasts, buttocks or external genitalia.

"Massage therapists are prohibited from touching intimate parts of a client, regardless of consent," says Lee Rasizer of the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations. "If a client feels uncomfortable during a massage therapy session, they should trust their instincts, say something and terminate the session. They may then talk to a facility manager or report the incident by filing a complaint online."

Duran had only been a licensed massage therapist in Colorado for three months at the time of his arrest, according to state licensing records. Duran is originally from Texas.

Olive Juice Beauty Bar did not respond to inquiries about Duran's employment. In response to an online customer review, the business called a man named Michael "our new massage therapist" on October 11, around two months before Duran's arrest.

At the time of his arrest, Duran was also employed as an assistant wrestling coach at Valor Christian High School, a private Christian school in Highlands Ranch. He resigned from his coaching position the day after the school put him on administrative leave, says Head of School Bryan Ritz.

"We were informed through local law enforcement and the flag notification system that an employee was accused of improper behavior," Ritz wrote in an email to the Valor community in April. "The incident occurred entirely off campus and did not involve any Valor students or staff members. We followed the protocol...and immediately placed this person on administrative leave. The following day this person resigned."

Ritz says the school conducted a "thorough" investigation into the situation, "and we have no reason to believe that any students were placed at risk."

If convicted, Duran faces up to 364 days in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines for each count of unlawful sexual contact, a Class 1 misdemeanor.