A third sexual assault allegedly occurred at Federal Way’s LH Foot Massage, which the business has renamed “Essential Massage.”
The victim reported to Federal Way police that a masseur inappropriately touched her genital area during a massage around noon on Oct. 29 at the business, located at 31501 Pacific Highway S.
The victim described her alleged attacker as being an Asian male, approximately 6 feet tall and around 200 pounds. She said he was between 50 and 60 years old with short black and gray hair and a round face, according to the police report.
Federal Way police Cmdr. Kurt Schwan said this case is an active felony investigation, therefore he was unable to provide more details, including whether police have arrested a suspect.
Schwan also said that at this time, no arrests have been made in connection with this case.
This is the third sexual assault report against the business; the previous two occurred at separate times to two different victims.
Xiaodong Yang, 49, was found guilty on Jan. 15 of sexually assaulting two clients on Dec. 25, 2017 and Feb. 24, 2018 at the Federal Way business. In both incidents Xiaodong massaged both women’s inner thighs and touched their genitalia with his fingers, according to charging documents. In the 2018 case, he inserted several of his fingers into the client’s genitalia and touched her buttock several times during the two-hour assault.
The woman who Yang sexually assaulted in February 2018 subsequently won a civil lawsuit against the massage business that claimed the company was aware of at least two complaints of Yang’s sexual misconduct and it did not warn its clients nor did it remove the employee. A jury awarded her $140,000 on July 12.
Yang was also unlicensed while working at the massage business at the times of both attacks.
LH Foot Massage is part of a chain of 11 total stores in Washington and California, with other Washington locations in Kent and Burien.
This story is part of an ongoing investigation and will be updated as more details become available.
