UPDATE: April 20 at 7:10 a.m.
A civil lawsuit has been filed against a Lexington Massage Envy location after a client alleged she was sexually assaulted by a massage therapist.
The lawsuit, filed April 17, follows the arrest of 25-year-old Caleb Howard. Howard is charged with first-degree sexual abuse in connection with an incident reported on March 14, 2026, at the Massage Envy on Bryant Rd.
According to the police report, the client reported she became alarmed by Howard's conduct during a massage and believed she was about to be assaulted.
The police report states Howard later admitted to the assault.
The civil lawsuit seeks to hold Massage Envy accountable for Howard’s alleged misconduct, including potential failures in hiring, supervision, and client safety protections.
The victim is represented by Stewart Ryan and Alexandria MacMaster, partners at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan, along with co-counsel Christopher Goode, founding attorney of Goode Lawyers.
According to Goode Lawyers, the investigation is ongoing, and they believe there may be other victims.
Original Story:
A massage therapist in Lexington is facing a first-degree sexual abuse charge after a client reported an assault during an appointment on March 14.
Lexington Police Department officers arrested 25-year-old Caleb Howard on March 18 in connection with an incident that occurred at the Massage Envy on Bryant Road.
According to the arrest citation, the victim was receiving a massage from Howard when she heard concerning noises and realized he was using only one hand for the massage. Police said the victim froze in fear, believing she was about to be assaulted.
The victim screamed for the manager, and Howard fled the room, according to court documents. The manager then responded and assisted the victim.
During an interview with police, Howard reportedly admitted to a sexual act detailed in the citation.
The investigating officer noted the victim experienced "tonic immobility" due to fear, rendering her physically helpless and incapable of consent. Howard was taken into custody and charged with first-degree sexual abuse.
