Oxford Valley Massage Therapist Convicted Of Sexually Assaulting 2 Clients

A Bensalem man has been convicted of sexually assaulting two female clients last summer while working as a massage therapist at a Falls Township Hand and Stone. David Elijah Ward, 37, was charged in August with assaulting two female victims during massage appointments at the chain's North Oxford Valley Road location.

A jury on Friday convicted Ward of two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault. Sentencing has been deferred but Ward no longer will be able to work as a licensed massage therapist, said Deputy District Attorney Kristin M. McElroy.

According to information from the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, the first victim was a 26-year-old woman who said that during her massage, Ward slipped his hand under her underwear and began massaging her vagina. She told authorities that Ward also "caressed and pinched" her breasts over a covering sheet.

The second victim, a 52-year-old woman, described a similar assault around the same time period. She later called Hand and Stone’s corporate office to report the assault, which responded by terminating Ward.

The victims testified that they did not know one another, and had made their reports independently.

Ward denied touching either victim inappropriately.

Judge Jeffrey L. Finley deferred sentencing until Ward can be evaluated by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, which recommends whether a defendant should be considered a sexually violent predator.