Woodland massage therapist convicted in sexual assault of several women, Yolo DA says
A Yolo County jury on Tuesday convicted a Woodland massage therapist who sexually assaulted several women over seven years before one of them notified police, prosecutors said.
Fermin Robles Perez, 55, was found guilty on multiple felony charges, including sexual penetration by fear or duress, sexual penetration of an unconscious person, sexual battery by fraud and sexual battery by restraint, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office announced in a news release.
The jury deliberated for more than six days before returning with a verdict for 16 criminal charges for six of the nine women who told investigators Perez had sexually assaulted them, prosecutors said. The jurors found Perez not guilty on four other sexual assault charges and were unable to reach a verdict on 15 additional charges against him.
The first woman went to the Woodland Police Department on July 1, 2020, to report she had been sexually assaulted by Perez during a massage. The Police Department started an investigation and announced Perez’s arrest two weeks later in a news release, urging any other victims to come forward.
Prosecutors said eight other women reported similar stories, accusing Perez of sexual assaulting them during massages at his business and at his Woodland home from 2013 through 2020.
Six of the women testified in front of a Yolo County Grand Jury in April, and all nine testified during Perez’s trial.
“Sexual assault is a traumatic experience, and to have to talk about it in a room full of strangers can be very intimidating,” Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig said in the news release. “These brave women came forward and had the courage to share their stories, and, as a result, Mr. Perez was held accountable for taking advantage of his position as a massage therapist.”
Perez is scheduled to return Dec. 17 to Yolo Superior Court for his sentencing hearing. Prosecutors said Perez faces a maximum sentence of 16 years in prison.
This story was originally published October 26, 2021 at 6:04 PM.
