A massage therapist from Conroe, Jose Barajas Franco, has been given a 15-year prison sentence. He was found guilty of three counts of second-degree felony sexual assault.
A verdict has been reached in the case of Franco, aged 53, who has been found guilty of one count of Class A misdemeanor indecent assault. These charges are a result of several allegations of sexual misconduct that took place at a Massage Envy establishment in the Greater Houston area.
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office has confirmed that Franco’s convictions are connected to reported assaults by four women. These women include both clients and former employees of Massage Envy franchises. The case has attracted significant attention due to a string of civil lawsuits and public reports.
In October 2023, Fox 26 covered a civil lawsuit that was filed in Harris County by a Conroe woman named T.G. An accusation has been made that Franco engaged in sexual misconduct during an appointment at a Massage Envy location in Conroe on July 3, 2022. An incident in the lawsuit describes Franco’s actions as he unexpectedly leapt onto the table, forcefully took hold of her hands, and engaged in a sexual act with the woman. The woman, a frequent customer, later received a positive test result for HSV-1, a herpes infection that cannot be cured. She believes that the assault is the cause of her infection.
A woman has come forward with allegations against Franco, stating that he inappropriately touched her during a session at the same location. She also accused him of not using proper draping techniques, which resulted in her feeling exposed on the table. The franchise, which is under the management of Mack Miller from FBE Ventures, resolved the legal dispute by providing a payment equal to the maximum insurance policy limit of $1 million to the two women involved.
In December 2023, three more women, including a former employee, stepped forward with allegations similar to those against Franco. The women claimed that Massage Envy and its franchise owner attempted to conceal the truth, presenting evidence of multiple complaints against Franco that were supposedly deleted from the company’s computer system.
Anna Greenberg, a trial lawyer with Blizzard Greenberg PLLC, expressed her disapproval of the way the allegations were handled. “The whistleblowers’ revelations highlight a significant effort to conceal the truth and safeguard the reputation, ultimately preventing other women from being aware of the potential harm,” stated Greenberg in December 2023. Additionally, she mentioned the possibility of additional victims, as sexual assaults frequently go unreported.
According to Massage Envy franchise owner Mack Miller, there is a higher number of lawsuits faced by male therapists in the industry, as he stated during a deposition in a civil case.
The sentencing hearing for Franco’s criminal case took place on August 30 in the 435th District Court, under the supervision of Judge Patty Maginnis. Fox 26 has attempted to contact Massage Envy and its franchise owner for comments on previous reports, but unfortunately, no response has been received.