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North Reading Massage Therapist Accused Of Rape Held Without Bail

NORTH READING (CBS) -- A 35-year-old massage therapist was held without bail after a dangerousness hearing in Woburn District Court.

A visibly shaken Daniel Feener entered the court, accused of abusing his position at Tai Chi Acupuncture and Wellness Center in North Reading to prey on a woman who had come for an appointment.

"This woman came under the auspices of getting a paid massage to get help for her back and shoulders," said prosecutor Joanna Staley.

Prosecutors said when she fell asleep on the massage table, Feener raped and sexually assaulted her.

"This was a person who took advantage of the complaining witness when she was essentially in a weakened state," Staley said.

The charges were upsetting to clients who arrived at the spa for appointments.

"If that's what's going on inside people will lose trust and may stop coming here," said a woman who did not want to be identified.

Feener, a married father with two young girls, is currently on probation for assaulting a police officer. But his attorney said the hiring manager at the wellness center saw another person.

"My client was just a man trying to provide for his wife and two kids. He was so up front and honest and that's the impression my client left with the manager," said defense attorney Jonathan Etesse.

The defense also pointed to an online feature about Feener, who was licensed through a school in Ipswich, praising the program and saying it gave him the change he needed.

But the judge was not persuaded and ordered him detained, despite defense efforts to have Feener released with a gps monitoring bracelet.

Clients say if the charges are true, a trust was more than broken.

"When you go to massage you definitely think about the people giving the massage as trustworthy and nice and know what they're doing."

Feener is due back in court Nov. 14 for a probable cause hearing.

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