A masseur at a high-end Minneapolis men's spa sexually assaulted two clients and told police he had inappropriately touched at least 50 men, according to criminal charges.
Benjamin A. Lamb, 65, of St. Paul, was charged Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct for two incidents.
"The defendant stated that he receives a 'perception' from a client and proceeds to touch them in their private areas because he thought they would enjoy it," the charges said. "The defendant admitted that some men probably did not want to be fondled."
A search warrant affidavit filed in the case said Lamb assaulted the two men in 2016 and 2019 while he was working at Men's Spa Salon in the 900 block of Washington Ave. S. downtown. The charges did not say where the other alleged 50 incidents may have occurred.
Attorney Marshall Tanick, who is representing the spa, said Lamb worked there for about six years and was fired on Jan. 2.
"The spa was not aware of this situation until they were contacted by police within the last few weeks, and the spa looked into the matter and undertook its own investigation and took prompt action to terminate Mr. Lamb's employment," Tanick said. "The spa certainly does not condone or tolerate this kind of behavior."
Citing the active court case, Minneapolis police declined to comment on the case and whether there is an ongoing investigation into Lamb and other possible victims.
Lamb did not have an attorney listed for his case and could not be reached for comment.
