Massage therapist accused of sexually assaulting patients to stand trial - MLive.com

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Daniel Armand LockettKalamazoo County Jail

KALAMAZOO, MI -- An Oshtemo Township massage therapist accused of sexually assaulting clients will stand trial.

Daniel Armand Lockett, 37, faces 10 charges of criminal sexual conduct for alleged crimes committed while massaging clients at his business, Unity Integrated Wellness & Fitness LLC.

Lockett was scheduled to have a preliminary examination on evidence against him held Tuesday, April 25. He has waived that examination and will stand trial in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court.

Lockett faces one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, which involves touching with force or coercion causing personal injury, two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, which involves penetration and seven counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, which involves touching using force or coercion.

The charges allege Lockett, sexually assaulted 10 clients from December 2015 to February 2017.

One potential victim who spoke with the Kalamazoo Gazette said seeing Lockett charged made her feel like she "wasn't crazy" for feeling uncomfortable after getting a massage from him in December.

"I wasn't nuts. I was floored, but I was pleased that I wasn't being too sensitive," she said.

During a court hearing in early March, a sheriff's deputy described what Lockett's alleged victims said he did to them. In one instnace, he allegedly massaged up and down a woman's leg and touched her pubic area about 20 times. Another time, he produced two hot stones normally used for massage and placed them on a woman's breasts and rubbed her breasts, according to the testimony.

"She felt intimidated and scared," the deputy said of the woman.

Another person reported Lockett rubbed and touched her buttocks and vagina during a massage.

Second and third-degree criminal sexual conduct both carry maximum penalties of 15 years in prison. Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct is a high-court misdemeanor with a two-year maximum penalty.

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