Ex-Stuart masseur accused of sexual battery gets deal, out of jail
January 16th, 2009 by Daphne Duret
A former Stuart masseur walked out of the Martin County jail Friday after accepting a plea in a case in which he was accused of drugging two female clients before performing sex acts on them.
Daniel Fuksman, 41, was scheduled to stand trial Tuesday on two charges of sexual battery. But on Friday, Circuit Judge Sherwood Bauer sentenced him to the year he had served in jail.
“Daniel has and continues to maintain his innocence, but the offer was one he thought he should take,” his attorney Jeff Smith said.
Fuksman was first arrested in December 2007, after one of his clients at Le Massage Spa on 209 S. Federal Highway told authorities she felt groggy and fell asleep during her massage only to wake up and find Fuksman performing a sex act on her.
Fuksman was arrested and released but was taken into custody again in February when another client made similar allegations.
Under the agreement, Fuksman pleaded no contest to charges in the first case and Assistant State Attorney Keri Smith dropped the second charge. Bauer also agreed to withhold a finding of guilt against Fuksman.
Fuksman could have faced up to 60 years in prison if convicted on both charges.
Tags: Daniel Fuksman, masseur, sexual battery
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January 16th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
To the Post:
A man who gives massages is called a masseur. A woman who gives massages is a masseuse.
January 17th, 2009 at 10:58 am
If in fact this man did commit a crime, it should be viewed as an isolated case. There are some very wonderful professionals in this health field that should not have to suffer because of one bad apple. Male massage therapists are finally being more accepted in this profession and surely do not need this type of behavior which could threaten their acceptance.
January 17th, 2009 at 11:42 am
The terms “masseur” (males), and “masseues” (females) went out of usage at LEAST 20 YEARS ago and I am surprised that a paper purportedly of this “caliber” would still use those totally outdated and denigratory terms…………
I have been a Licensed Massage Therapist for over 20 years. WE, as Licensed Massage Therapist (L.M.T,s ..) have to go through some very strict schooling and testing before we can APPLY to take the Florida State Testing to get our License Certification which must be renewed every two years requiring constant continuuing education requirements.
There are people in ALL professions that violate laws/ethics; politics, medical, law, priests, etc.,……..
One violator does NOT reflect upon the Profession!
We are also constantly supervised and regulated by the Board of Helath of the State of Florida, whichis also the same board that regulates Chiropractors and MD’s….. so you can imagine we are quite thoroughly regulated.
Licensed Massage Therapists are Health Professionals and most of us , if we don’t own our own private Health Practices, work with other Health Professioanls, such as Doctors and Chiropractors as well as Nutritionists. Many LMT’s also are Nutritionists.
January 17th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
A one year deal for two cases sounds like the DA couldn’t convince the victims to testify.