A recent arrest in Lincoln Park has shed light on a concerning issue in Illinois – some registered sex offenders can become licensed massage therapists. The case involves 40-year-old Nicholas Brown, a licensed massage therapist at Equinox Lincoln Common, who was charged with sexually abusing a male client during a massage session.
According to Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pekara, Brown encouraged the client to undress and then proceeded to share personal details about his sexual preferences. This escalated into unwanted touching, including tickling the victim’s thigh and buttocks. It was revealed in court that Brown had been convicted of criminal sexual assault in Wisconsin at the age of 15, although the case was later expunged, he still had to register as a sex offender.
What’s even more alarming is that Brown obtained his massage therapist license in Illinois in 2015, despite his status as a sex offender. He even failed to disclose his past conviction when applying for the license. State regulators reprimanded him for this omission but allowed him to remain licensed, leading to his employment at Equinox.
Illinois law prohibits regulators from considering juvenile offenses or expunged convictions when making licensure determinations. This loophole allowed Brown, a registered sex offender, to work as a massage therapist. Despite the expungement of his juvenile case in 2018, there is confusion about whether he still needs to register as a sex offender.
In response to the case, IDFPR imposed a chaperone requirement on Brown’s license, which was later suspended for non-compliance. However, the issue of employment law arises, as employers may be breaking the law if they reject a licensed massage therapist based on their criminal record.
Lawmakers have remained silent on whether the law should be changed to prevent sex offenders from becoming massage therapists. Responses from representatives of the area where the incident occurred and advocates for criminal justice reform were not received.
Overall, the case of Nicholas Brown highlights the need for a review of the laws surrounding the licensing of sex offenders in sensitive professions like massage therapy. The safety and well-being of clients should be the top priority, and steps should be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
