201907.17

Caregiver, massage therapist suspected of sexually assaulting patient in Laguna Woods, clients in Mission Viejo

by jeff in News

Deputies arrested a licensed massage therapist and home health care provider who is suspected of sexually assaulting one of his patients in Laguna Woods and two clients in Mission Viejo, Orange County Sheriff’s Department officials said Wednesday.

Russell Bernardino, 43, Mission Viejo, was taken into custody Wednesday on suspicion of rape, elder sexual abuse, oral copulation and sexual battery, Sheriff’s Department officials said in a statement. He was booked into the Orange County Jail in connection to three alleged incidents that took place between March 2018 and June 2019, and held in lieu of $100,00 bail.

Licensed caregiver and massage therapist Russell Bernardino, 43, of Mission Viejo, was arrested Wednesday, July 17, on suspicion of sexually assaulting two women at a Mission Viejo massage business in 2019, and raping a 77-year-old woman at her home in Laguna Woods while she was under his care in March 2018. (Photo Courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department)

The suspect has been a licensed massage therapist for three years and worked for West Coast Care, an assisted living company in Orange that provides in-home care to patients in Orange County, between 2017 and 2018, Sheriff’s officials said. A 77-year old woman who had been under Bernardino’s care reported that he raped her at her Laguna Woods home in March 2018.

A little over one year later, a 36-year-old woman told authorities Bernardino sexually assaulted her during a session at Massage Envy in Mission Viejo, 27620 Marguerite Parkway, Suite A&B, in April, Sheriff’s officials said. Another alleged assault took place at the same business in June involving the suspect and a 71-year-old female client.

“Massage Envy is committed to promoting a safe environment for members, guests and service providers at each of our nearly 1,200 franchise locations nationwide,” a representative said in a statement form the company’s corporate office. “We urge anyone that experiences anything other than a safe, quality massage to report it immediately to the franchise location so that it can be investigated.”

Representatives from the franchise location involved in the alleged assaults did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A website for West Coast Care in Orange listed inaccurate contact information.

Authorities suspect that Bernardino may have committed other crimes, and reached out to the public to help identify additional victims. Officials asked anyone with information potentially relevant to the Sheriff Department’s investigation to dial 714-647-7419. Tips can also be left anonymously with OC Crime Stoppers by calling 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or visiting https://OCCrimestoppers.org.