Mike Cuthbertson Legal Defense Fund

On June 13 , I walked out of my workplace to find police officers waiting to arrest me. I’ve been a licensed professional deep-tissue and trigger-point massage therapist for 18 years with a large group of longtime, satisfied clientele who rely on me for their pain relief and healing. So imagine my dismay when I learned that a woman, a new client, whom I had worked on only once, had filed charges of sexual assault against me.

I was handcuffed and taken to a police station, where I was fingerprinted and jailed before being released on bond.

The woman who filed charges against me had come in to our reputable establishment for a massage almost a full month before. I gave her exactly the same treatment that I give all my clients—a clinical, therapeutic, non-intimate massage that is focused on releasing tension and relieving pain. By every indication, she was satisfied with my work. She even added a $20 tip to her credit card payment at the desk as she was leaving.

Within days after her treatment with me, she went to a male chiropractor for an adjustment. This is certainly not behavior one would expect from someone recently traumatized by sexual assault.

And yet, sometime within the next few weeks, she went to the police and filed charges against me, alleging that I had forcefully massaged her genitalia. Let me be clear: I always stay well clear of all genital areas in my massage sessions. My work is focused exclusively on therapy for mobility and pain management. I perform deep tissue and trigger point bodywork only on the back, shoulders, arms, legs, neck, hands, and feet.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, my employer was forced to give me a leave of absence until this is cleared up. I still see many of my (fully informed) private clientele at a private clinic where I can book space on an as-needed basis. But my licensure is up for annual renewal in November, and my livelihood is seriously threatened. I will have to find some sort of temporary, alternative employment as I work through this.

I’ve spoken to several criminal attorneys. All have assured me that I will win this case and that the charges will be dropped. But it might take years to see this through. And until I am not only exonerated, but I’ve also filed and won a civil case against this woman for damages, I will have to pay the legal fees. Just an initial retainer will be around $3,000, and I simply don’t have that money or even the means to earn it at this time.

If you can find it in your heart to donate to help me fight this, I would be very grateful. Any amount will help, even $20, or less.

I will be sure to post updates here as my case moves forward.

I would also like to add that in 18+ years of my career I have never once had this happen to me before.