A man running an unlicensed chiropractic business out of his home has been charged with sexually assaulting two women who fell for the ruse, said Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Somerville chief of police Charles Femino on Tuesday.
Jose Mendez, 60, lured women to his home on Cross Street in East Somerville and through offers of chiropractic help twice touched the victims inappropriately – and once also unzipped his pants to expose himself, the officials said in an emailed press release.
Details reported by WCVB-TV included accusations he put his hand in a woman’s underwear for knee pain, saying a nerve ran the length of her leg, and that another woman was asked her to take off her clothes and for oral sex. One woman said her daughter had also been assaulted. The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers passed onward one of the complaints to police, the station said.
He was arraigned Wednesday in Somerville District Court, where bail was set at $5,500. He was ordered to stay away from the alleged victims – and to not practice as a chiropractor – until his next court date, May 14.
Investigators believe he has been running the business through word of mouth and referrals, but are still investigating. They asked anyone with information on the unlicensed chiropractic business to call Somerville police at (617) 625-1600, Ext. 7278.
The charges against Mendez include two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14; indecent exposure; and operating as an unlicensed chiropractor.
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