Unlicensed massage therapist charged with rape issued cease and desist order

Suspect has no massage therapist license, but worked at LH Massage in Federal Way six days per week.

An unlicensed massage therapist charged with sexually assaulting two clients at a Federal Way business was issued a cease and desist order from the Washington State Department of Health in September to stop practicing massage without a license.

Federal Way resident Xiaodong Yang, 49, was charged on March 2 with second-degree rape and indecent liberties after he allegedly sexually assaulted two clients on Dec. 25, 2017 and Feb. 24, 2018 at LH Foot Massage, located at 31501 Pacific Highway S.

In both incidents Xiaodong allegedly massaged both women’s inner thighs and touched their genitalia with his fingers, according to charging documents. In the most recent case, he allegedly inserted several of his fingers into the client’s genitalia and touched her buttock several times during the alleged two-hour assault.

The woman subsequently filed a civil lawsuit against LH Foot Massage on April 18, which claimed the company was aware of at least two complaints of sexual misconduct by Xiaodong and it did not warn its clients nor did it remove the employee.

The business did not respond to the Mirror’s request for comments.

Xiaodong told police he has no massage therapist license, but worked at LH Massage in Federal Way six days per week and received payment for his massage services.

He bailed out of jail on April 4 on condition that he surrenders his passport and does not engage in any occupation where he would be alone with a female, according to court documents.

The Department of Health also ordered him to pay a $1,000 fine in September.