TOPSHAM
A Topsham massage therapist faces a charge of gross sexual assault after a complaint he inappropriately touched a woman.
Lionel J. Beaucage, 55, of 38 Coombs Road, was arrested Sept. 18 and charged with gross sexual assault. He posted $1,000 unsecured bail and was released, Topsham Police Chief Christopher Lewis said.
“Lionel is greatly looking forward to his day in court. When called upon to do so, he will sternly and loudly proclaim he is not guilty of this charge,” said his attorney, Tim Zerillo of Zerillo Law LLC in Portland.
Lewis said police received a complaint Sept. 8 about an alleged incident that occurred a week prior at a Topsham fitness center where Beaucage works as a professional fitness trainer and licensed massage therapist.
A 47-year-old Freeport woman reported an inci- dent of inappropriate touching that occurred as Beaucage was performing a massage on her, Lewis said.
Lewis said the incident remains under investigation, led by police officer William Collins. Beaucage has a Sagadahoc County Superior Court appearance scheduled for Nov. 6.
Nothing on record
According to the Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation records for Massage Therapy Licensure, Beaucage has no disciplinary actions on record.
“Obviously, when anyone is charged, it’s merely just an accusation,” Zerillo said. “In Lionel’s case what we have is a man with no prior record accused of some very serious crimes and we’re in our process of doing our investigation.”
Zerillo said he had not yet seen evidence from police.
He added, “We would really urge the people who are making these allegations to please consider being very careful in what they say to the police. We urge anyone who is making the allegation … to stop and think before they do it and make sure that what they are doing is completely 100 percent accurate.”
dmoore@timesrecord.com
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