ST. GEORGE — A suspect is in jail facing multiple second-degree felony charges following a months-long investigation into reports alleging inappropriate sexual behavior by a former male masseuse working at a Washington City massage parlor.
The arrest warrant was issued in May following an investigation into what was initially one report alleging a former masseuse working at a location near Red Cliffs Drive, according to the affidavit filed in support of the warrant.
Following the first incident, five separate complaints with similar allegations of sexual abuse would follow, investigators noted. All involving the same masseur during the months that he was employed by the business between six separate customers.
A number of the parties interviewed said they did not wish to be considered victims, the report states, but all shared similar accounts of what allegedly occurred during their appointments at the business.
In January, a man who booked a massage appointment following a back injury told investigators the suspect touched him inappropriately. After several attempts to move the suspect’s hand away, the customer left.
Similar incidents were reported, including one customer who reportedly punched the suspect in the chest. Investigators noted the masseur responded by “putting a finger to his lips and making a shush sound,” according to the report.
Several of the customers told officers it was the first time they received a massage. One customer told police he only realized how inappropriate the suspect’s actions were after he discussed the encounter with a partner.
Another customer alleged that the suspect offered to perform sexual acts upon him, an offer the man refused before leaving the shop without providing further details. Another customer expressed concern over the suspect using his position of trust to engage in such activities.
And several of those interviewed described the appointments with statements such as, “everything appeared normal at first.” More than one told investigators they did not report the incidents earlier out of embarrassment.
Officers then received a photo of the suspect provided by one of the complainants who had taken a screenshot of a business review on Google that stated the masseur’s name was “Andy.”
Investigators learned the massage business employed only one male masseur, which was later identified as 35-year-old Yao Geng, who also went by Andy with customers and coworkers alike.
Police interviewed Geng in April, who reportedly denied the allegations, telling officers the complainants were “dissatisfied customers.” The suspect also confirmed he was the only male masseur at the business, and said that a number of customers had requested sexual acts from him in the past — requests he said he would deny.
One month later, investigators learned that Geng moved to California shortly after the interview in April. The case was then turned over to the Washington County Attorney’s Office to be reviewed for charges. On May 31, Geng was formally charged with three second-degree felony counts of forcible sexual abuse and a no-bail warrant was issued for his arrest.
St. George News reached out to Washington City Police Chief Jason Williams, who said the warrant, which was entered into the National Crime Information Center, was picked up by officers in Los Angeles, California.
Shortly thereafter, detectives in Washington City received a call from the Los Angeles County Jail advising of the suspect’s arrest.
“They asked if we wanted him held in jail until we could pick him up,” Williams said. “So we asked the jail to hold onto him while two of our detectives drove down there to get him and they brought him back to Utah.”
On Thursday, Geng was booked into Purgatory Correctional Facility shortly after 6:30 p.m. where he remains in custody without bail.
This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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