In a disturbing turn of events in Austin, a lawsuit has engulfed a Massage Envy franchise, where a woman has alleged she was sexually assaulted during what was supposed to be a routine massage. The incident, which took place in July 2024, is now the subject of legal action against the franchisee, Helix2 Spas Austin, and former employee Juan Alberto Bastida. According to reports by FOX 7, the plaintiff, who wishes to remain anonymous, stated the massage therapist overstepped boundaries and sexually assaulted her in a moment of extreme vulnerability.
"Traumatized. I absolutely froze, I couldn't move, I just didn't know what to do," the victim recounted in a statement obtained by FOX 7. After the alleged assault, the woman promptly filed a report with the Austin Police Department and underwent a rape kit exam. An active warrant is now out for Bastida's arrest, yet despite these serious allegations, his license remains active, a fact that troubles the plaintiff and her legal team due to Bastida's prior criminal record, including a 2002 burglary and a 2015 assault.
The lawsuit, filed in Travis County, names both Bastida and the franchise as defendants. The victim has described the assault in detail, stating Bastida groped her breast and penetrated her with his finger. She managed to leave during the massage and immediately reported the incident to the police. This troubling assertion was highlighted in a KVUE report, where it was revealed that the plaintiff now contends with nightmares and lives in constant fear as a result of the encounter.
"You should be able to go into a situation like that and feel like you can trust that you're going to be safe," the woman told FOX 7, expressing a wish to use her voice so that no one else has to endure such an experience. The Austin Police Department is actively searching for Bastida, and the woman's attorney, Anna Greenberg, has called for not only swift law enforcement action but also for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to swiftly revoke or suspend licensure when sexual assault charges are involved. Greenberg, who has worked five cases against Massage Envy franchises in the past year, finds the current situation with Bastida's license particularly alarming.
Massage Envy Circle C Assistant Manager M.J. Cowart has stated, "The company terminates providers following any inappropriate conduct that has been brought to our attention." The franchise, however, faces significant scrutiny, as the lawsuit seeks damages in excess of a million dollars. Meanwhile, community members in Austin await further developments with a mix of concern and anticipation.
