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Jury awards $4.9M to women over alleged Sedona spa assaults

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Posted at 6:18 AM, Sep 20, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-20 09:18:47-04

PHOENIX (AP) - Jurors have awarded nearly $5 million to two women who say they were sexually assaulted during massages at a Sedona spa in 2016.

The women filed a lawsuit, alleging they suffered physical, emotional and psychological trauma after receiving massages from Aaron Frank Orrico.

The 48-year-old massage therapist denied the allegations.

But the Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy revoked Orrico's license, saying he broke a state law that prohibits massage therapists from engaging in sexual activity with clients.

After a three-day trial, a Yavapai County Superior Court jury awarded $4 million in punitive damages to the women.

Jurors also awarded medical expenses of $300,000 to one of the women and $630,000 to the other.

The Arizona Republic reports Orrico is facing pending criminal charges related to the sexual assault allegations.