Saskatoon massage therapist accused of sexually assaulting six clients released on bail - Saskatoon Star-Phoenix

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Kenneth Braun, who ran his business out of his Degeer Street home, can't practise massage therapy under his bail conditions.


Author of the article:

Bre McAdam • Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Kenneth Braun, 66, is charged with sexually assaulting six female massage clients at his home business between 1996 and 2022.

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A Saskatoon massage therapist accused of sexually assaulting six clients out of his home business over 26 years has been granted bail.

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Kenneth Braun, 66, was released on Friday after a bail hearing in Saskatoon provincial court. The details presented during the hearing, including Judge Doug Agnew’s reasons for releasing him, cannot be reported due to a standard publication ban that protects an accused person’s right to a fair trial.

Braun was initially charged in June after a 31-year-old woman alleged she was sexually assaulted during a massage therapy appointment at his home business in the 4000 block of Degeer Street on April 3.

Business registration documents show Braun is the director of Braun Massage Therapy Inc. at that address.

Once his charges were made public, five more women came forward with allegations stemming from the years between 1996 and 2021.

Braun has been in custody since July 5, when he was charged with four additional sexual assault counts, one count of assault causing bodily harm and one count of sexual exploitation — which is laid when an accused person is said to be in a “position of trust or authority towards a young person.”

In Canadian law, an accused is presumed innocent and must be released from custody unless the Crown can establish that detention is necessary on either the primary ground (flight risk), secondary ground (public protection) or tertiary ground (public perception).

During his release, Braun must continue living at his Degeer Street home, where he has a curfew from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. for any residence checks.

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He cannot leave Saskatchewan, unless with the court’s permission, and must surrender his passport. He also cannot have any contact with his complainants.

Braun has seven days to turn over any current massage certifications in his possession to the court and is not allowed to practise massage therapy.

In an email, the Massage Therapist Association of Saskatchewan said Braun has not been an active member of the association since he was suspended in May after a complaint was received.

Braun is represented by defence lawyer Daniel Katzman. His next scheduled court date is Aug. 4.

— With StarPhoenix files from Thia James

bmcadam@postmedia.com

twitter.com/breezybremc

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