A Vancouver registered massage therapist and musician is facing four counts of sexual assault, and police are appealing to any other victims to come forward.
Vancouver police spokesperson Const. Jason Doucette said allegations of sexual assault against Bodhi Jones were first brought to the attention of officers in February 2017.
Eric Wredenhagen, registrar and CEO at the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia, said the college received a report on Feb. 16, 2017 that Jones had been arrested by Vancouver police at the clinic near West Seventh Avenue and Burrard Street where he was practising.
The college launched its own investigation the next day. Wredenhagen said Jones voluntarily resigned his massage therapist registration on Feb. 21, 2017.
The VPD’s sex crimes unit’s investigation continued over the next year with several female patients reporting they were allegedly assaulted by Jones during massage treatments between September 2016 and February 2017.
On May 29, 2018, Crown counsel approved four charges of sexual assault against Jones.
Doucette said detectives are continuing to investigate the incidents and believe there may be more victims who have not yet come forward.
“Sex assaults are some of the most challenging investigations, and solving them is a priority for the VPD,” Doucette said. “We are publicly releasing this information with the hope of providing those affected with a direct point of contact at the VPD. We want to hear from anyone who feels they may have been assaulted by Mr. Jones.”
Wredenhagen told the Courier the college had not received any complaints against Jones before he was arrested by police in February 2017.
He said the college’s investigation into the allegations is still open but on hold while the allegations are tried in court.
“We will let the court process conclude and then we will decide what, if any, action to take at that point.”
Anyone who may have been assaulted by Bodhi Jones, or has information they feel could be important for police to know, is asked to contact the VPD sex crimes unit at 604-717-0603 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
@JessicaEKerr
jkerr@vancourier.com
