The Sunset Beach man accused of sexually assaulting three women at a Seal Beach business is scheduled to have a pre-trial hearing on Aug. 19.
Jason Michael Elliot, 28, is out on bail after being charged with three counts of assault with intent to commit specified sex crimes while working as a massage therapist in Seal Beach.
The Orange County Superior Court Web site initially said his preliminary hearing was scheduled for Friday, July 22.
However, Farrah Emami, spokesperson for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, said there was no hearing on the case on July 22.
As of late Friday afternoon, the courthouse Web site, occourts.org, reported that the July 22 hearing was cancelled.
Both Emami and occourts.org said Elliot’s pre-trial hearing was scheduled for Aug. 19.
Seal Beach Detective David Barr, who investigated the case, said the case involved touching areas of the body that were off limits to touching.
Explaining the difference between sexual assault and rape, Barr said that grabbing someone’s backside and then running down the street would be considered a sexual assault.
The incidents reportedly occurred while Elliot was working for the Massage Envy clinic in Seal Beach. The Sun contacted Massage Envy for a comment last week. The statement arrived after last week’s newspaper went to press.
“Massage Envy is a national company with over 900 franchised massage therapy clinics in operation or in the process of opening. Each clinic employs therapists who have graduated from an accredited massage school and who meet all state and local licensing requirements.
“The clinics conduct criminal background checks on all potential massage therapists, including this therapist, at the time of hiring.
“In addition, Seal Beach police department had conducted their own background check on this therapist prior to licensing. Massage therapists also receive training and orientation from the Massage Envy clinic, which specifically includes coverage of the policy which expressly prohibits inappropriate conduct.
“Massage Envy averages over 1 million massages and facials on a monthly basis and is committed to providing high quality service to our customers in a safe and comfortable environment. We take all customer complaints very seriously and have a zero tolerance policy on inappropriate behavior.
“The clinic is fully cooperating with the investigation being conducted by the Seal Beach police department. The clinic has also conducted its own internal investigation of this incident and is taking the appropriate steps in conjunction with the police department. The therapist is no longer employed by the clinic.”
To make a comment on this story at the Sun Newspapers’ Web site, go to www.sunnews.org.
Lifeguards: stingray injuries down, rescues up
Moderate surf kept stingrays offshore and reduced stingray injuries during the week between Thursday, July 14 and Thursday, July 21, according to Seal Beach Marine Safety (Lifeguard) Department Chief Joe Bailey.
“The surf has helped to keep the stingrays off shore and lower the number of stingray victims. However the surf has caused a rise in rescues, we have had a consistent amount of rescues during the week,” Bailey wrote in his staff report to the city manager.
There were 64 rescues that week, 40 medical aid calls (of which two were classified as serious), four boat rescues and 28 stingray injuries.
Crime Log Compiled by Charles M. Kelly
The crimes listed in the Sun Newspapers were reported to Seal Beach Police Department, Los Alamitos Police Department and Orange County Sheriff Department between July 11 and July 23, 2011. Only street names are used; times given are reported times, not incident times.
Crime Log entries are based on preliminary information. Space limitations make it impossible to publish every incident. Until proven guilty in a court of law, all suspects are considered innocent.
IN SEAL BEACH
Monday, July 11
Grand Theft Report—12:03 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—A citizen reported that an envelope containing $24,000 was left at a cash register. When the citizen returned, the envelope was gone. The incident occurred last month. Report taken.
Tuesday, July 12
Assist Other Agency—11:14 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station personnel requested police assistance with an individual who had a loaded .45 firearm in his vehicle.
The man denied having weapons in his vehicle, but the gun was located during a vehicle inspection. He was interviewed in the field.
Wednesday, July 13
Trespassing—3:34 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station personnel detained a man who was in the harbor area on a paddle boat. A crime report was issued for trespassing, but no one intends to prosecute. Report taken.
Thursday, July 14
Petty Theft Report—5:22 p.m.—2nd Street—The caller, a 13-year-old, reported the theft of a white Schwinn last seen two hours earlier in front of the 2nd Street location. No parents were home. Report taken.
Friday, July 15
Suspicious Circumstances—12:15 p.m.—Sandpiper Drive—Twenty minutes earlier, the caller saw a man with a skateboard walk up the side of a neighbor’s residence. The neighbors were not home. The caller’s husband checked the back yard and could not locate the man. It was possible the suspicious man jumped over the fence into another yard. Police unit 141 confirmed a residential burglary had taken place. The residence was secured. Report taken.
Saturday, July 16
Vandalism Reported—12:53 p.m.—Crestview Avenue—The caller heard a thump at about 10:30 a.m. Just before calling the police, the caller went out to her vehicle. The windshield had been shattered. Police unit 141 determined there was no vandalism. Someone left a mini air horn in the vehicle. Heat caused the air can to explode, which cracked the front windshield. There was no crime. Police advised the woman to contact her insurance company. Assisted.
IN LOS ALAMITOS
Thursday, July 14
Petty Theft—8:28 p.m.—Katella Avenue—The caller said a man was stealing inside the store. The suspect took two packs of razors and placed them in the front pocket of his jacket. He left the store with another man. Police arrested both men.
Friday, July 15
Vandalism Report—10:05 a.m.—Kevin Street—The caller said a neighbor spray painted the caller’s lawn. The suspect was home at this time. This was apparently an on-going verbal dispute between neighbors. Parties counseled.
Saturday, July 16
Disturbance—6:48 p.m.—Farquhar Avenue—A man spit on the caller’s door. The man was last walking westbound on Howard Avenue.
The caller said the man was upset that the caller did not entertain him. The suspect was unknown to caller.
Sunday, July 17
Drunk—7:08 p.m.—Katella Avenue—A woman left the Los Alamitos Medical Center with an intravenous tube in her arm. She had been discharged, but needed to have the IV removed by medics. Friends arrived to take her home.
Monday, July 18
Patrol Check—11:42 a.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard and Katella Avenue—The caller requested a patrol check for a hazardous driver. An elderly woman ran a red light and was making wide turns.
Tuesday, July 19
Extra Patrol Check—12:37 p.m.—Cherry Street—A man approached the caller’s door and asked for a person who did not live there. The caller informed the man of this fact. The man arrived in a white compact car. There were two other people inside the car. The caller believed they were casing the area with the intent to rob someone.
Wednesday, July 20
Assist Other Agency—5:45 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard—A woman was stuck in an elevator with two children and a dog. They were rescued.
Thursday, July 21
Man With Gun—3:17 a.m.—Ranger Drive—The caller was delivering the milk and the man yelled at caller to leave the neighborhood. The man hit the caller’s car with his hands. Another caller told police that the situation was escalating. The neighbor tried to talk. The suspect was standing outside caller’s residence. He was arrested.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, July 18
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—4:35 a.m.—Blume Drive and Tucker Lane. Read—The caller said two individuals got out of a new model white Hummer and looked into vehicles with flashlights. The caller said it was too dark to describe the suspects.
Patrol Check—7:42 p.m.—Druid Lane and Rowena Drive—Bees were reported around the base of the lamppost. Orange County Public Works told the Orange County Sheriff’s Department that someone already called in the bee report on Saturday, July 16. County Public Works personnel said they would take care of the bees Tuesday morning, July 19.
Wednesday, July 20
Vehicle Burglary Report—11:01 a.m.—Martha Ann Drive—Loss: seats missing.
Keep the Peace—4:38 p.m.—Druid Lane—The caller said she rents her home from a man. The caller said a woman identifying herself as the landlord came to the house. The caller said the other woman pushed the caller when the caller tried to get her identification back. The caller said the man she rents from had not been home in two weeks. The caller did not know if the other woman was the landlord or not. At 4:41 p.m., the log reported that the caller said the woman was also trying to break into the roommate’s room. The caller had two children and didn’t want the landlord upsetting them.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—9:02 p.m.—Tucker Lane—The caller said a man rang the doorbell and refused to show his face. The man asked for Bill. The caller told him there was no Bill at the residence. The man left.
Friday, July 22
Burglary Report—1:39 p.m.—St. Cloud Drive—The log did not say whether this was a residential burglary or a vehicular burglary.
Burglary Report—8:24 p.m.—Druid Lane—The log did not say whether this was a residential burglary or a vehicular burglary.
Saturday, July 23
Burglary Report—8:08 a.m.—Donovan Road—The log did not say whether this was a residential burglary or a vehicular burglary.
Burglary Report—9:22 a.m.—Ruth Elaine Drive—The log did not say whether this was a residential burglary or a vehicular burglary.
IN SUNSET BEACH
Monday, July 18
Burglary in Progress—5:29 p.m.—Pacific Avenue—Unit 307 entered the residence to make sure it was clear.
Tuesday, July 19
Disturbance—4:37 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway. Read—The caller said a man broke an ashtray. Employees escorted him out of the business and he was trying to get back in.
Wednesday, July 20
Disturbance, Music or Party—11:17 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller complained about loud music from the Irish Mist. At 11:37 p.m. the log said the bar was closed for the night.
Thursday, July 21
Shots Heard— 9:26 p.m.—12th Street—The caller said he heard either five shots or fireworks, possibly coming from Pacific Coast Highway and 12th Street. No suspect information.
Friday, July 22
Burglary Report—12:40 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—Someone reportedly attempted to steal car rims.
Disturbance—6:53 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and Warner Avenue.
Robbery in Progress Reported—12:48 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—Although the original report was of a robbery in progress, what the responding deputy found was a dispute between two individuals. There was no crime.
Saturday, July 23
Disturbance, Music or Party—1:46 a.m.—14th Street.
Unknown Trouble—5:53 a.m.—Pacific Avenue.
Shelley Henderson of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
