Eagan massage therapist wasn’t licensed when he allegedly sexually assaulted 2 clients, city says

A Twin Cities massage therapist has been charged with raping one of his clients during an appointment, marking the third sexual assault case filed against him since mid-June.

Johnny Le, 32, of Richfield, was charged Monday in Dakota County District Court with third-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with an assault on Dec. 20 at JLe Massage Therapy in the 4600 block of Nicols Road in Eagan.

A case filed in February is for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, while the charge filed in June alleges fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct. Both counts are felonies.

Le was arrested Feb. 12, after the second case was filed. He posted bond of $25,000 and was released Feb. 18.

A nationwide warrant was issued a for Le’s arrest. A Dakota County official said Thursday that Le turned himself in on Wednesday night, and will next appear in court on April 1.

A message was left with Le’s attorney seeking a response to the allegations. A call to Le’s business midday Tuesday was not answered.

The city of Eagan requires massage therapists to be licensed.

City spokeswoman Sara Horwath said Wednesday that Le was issued a license in February 2024, but he did not renew it upon its expiration on June 30, meaning that the final two alleged assaults occurred while Le was not licensed.

Police Sgt. Rich Evans said Wednesday in an email that his department doesn’t do annual licensing checks like it does for tobacco and alcohol.

“However, when we get tips on alleged criminal activity, we conduct checks to make sure the business and providers are in compliance and not doing prohibited conduct/business.”

According to the criminal complaints:

On Feb. 11, a woman contacted police and said Le groped her and tried to force her to touch him sexually.

Le apologized when the appointment was over and said “he was sorry that he crossed a line,” the complaint read. He also explained how she could get a refund.

On Dec. 20, a woman went to police and alleged that Le sexually assaulted her. The assault involved various sex acts and included intercourse twice.

“The victim remembered [Le] saying something along the lines of ‘I shouldn’t be doing this,‘ ” the complaint read.

The woman left, called her boyfriend and then police.

A DNA sample was collected from the woman during a sexual assault exam. The State Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said the sample was a match with Le.

On May 6, 2024, a woman told police that Le sexually assaulted her two days earlier. She said Le “touched her inappropriately [during] a full body massage.”

After the woman left, she sent him a text saying what he did was wrong. He replied that “it was very unprofessional” and apologized, the complaint said.

In a Tuesday statement, the County Attorney’s Office said, “There may be additional victims” and encouraged others with allegations to contact Eagan Police Detective Angela Casey at 651-675-5763 or angela.casey@eaganmn.gov.