South County Massage Therapist Sentenced in Sexual Battery of Clients

A San Clemente-based massage therapist convicted of sexual battery on four women and inappropriately touching a fifth victim was sentenced today to about a year in jail.

Ping Li, 51, of San Clemente, was sentenced to a year and five days in jail and ordered to pay a $500 fine and put on three years of formal probation. He was given credit for 72 days in custody so far.

Li was convicted Aug. 4 of four counts of sexual battery and a count of simple battery, all misdemeanors. The maximum Li faced in custody was two and a half years and a $10,000 fine.

Li, the owner of Massage Clover in San Clemente, molested three female clients on four occasions from June 4 to Oct. 4 of last year, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. The victims were 20 to 57 years old, prosecutors said.

Li also groped a female employee, prosecutors said.

A fourth customer was touched near her groin during a massage, according to prosecutors.

Li was acquitted of a charge related to a sixth woman, according to Roxi Fyad of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

City News Service