Masseur charged with sex crime

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - A 28-year-old Virginia Beach man working as a masseur has been arrested on sexual abuse charges, as well as practicing without a license.

Grazia Moyers with the Virginia Beach Police Department said a woman said she visited Knuckles 'N' Knots in the 3600 block of Virginia Beach Boulevard Feb. 12 for a massage. She told police her male masseuse pressed against her and inappropriately touched her.

The victim was unsure whether to report the incident at first, but decided to speak to police in case of other potential victims.

"It's definitely alarming, because you're expecting you're going to get touched and rubbed, but you don't expect it to be anything in a sexual manner," customer Krystal Artis said.

Christopher Brian Beard has been charged with misdemeanor sexual battery and practicing without a license.

10 On Your Side stopped by Beard's home in Virginia Beach and spoke with his brother off-camera. 

He said Beard went to school in Florida to be a massage therapist and moved to Virginia to be a masseur. He had a massage license, but it recently ran out, according to his brother. Beard has been working at Knuckles 'N' Knots for almost four years.  

If you or anyone you know may have been a victim, contact Virginia Beach detectives at (757) 385-4101.