Destin massage therapist, Alan McCullough, surrendered his license to practice massage therapy in Florida, which was accepted and adjudged as a discipline on February 9, 2022, by the Board of Massage Therapy. Following a disciplinary action brought by the Florida Department of Health alleging incidents of sexual misconduct at three Destin massage spas, McCullough agreed to cease practicing immediately and not re-apply for a massage therapist license in Florida. McCullough has been a licensed massage therapist in Florida since 2019. McCullough, a former Marine of 20 years, is now reported to be working at Walmart in Destin.
A Final Order of discipline was entered following an allegation of sexual misconduct made against McCullough when working at Massage Envy in Destin and Eleos Professional Massage Therapy & Spa. According to the Order, McCullough was arrested in October 2020 on two battery charges for sexual acts he performed on two female clients at two different massage spas
According to the Orders, the first incident occurred on November 24, 2019, at Massage Envy in Destin. McCullough performed a 90-minute full-body massage on a 42-year-old female client visiting from Texas. The client complained that Mr. McCullough allegedly made her uncomfortable during her massage. She stated that Mr. McCullough fondled her breasts and flicked and pinched both nipples while lying on her back with a sheet covering her. The victim reported the incident to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office that same day.
On September 14, 2020, Mr. McCullough performed a massage on a 25-year-old female client at ELEOS Professional Massage and Spa. She complained that when she was lying on her back, McCullough allegedly massaged her upper thighs and then placed two fingers over her underwear and rubbered her vaginal area three times before she sat up and told him to stop. She then got dressed and reported the incident to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office that same day. McCullough was arrested and charged with two counts of battery.
More recently, in September 2020, a 25-year-old college student from Tennessee reported to police that massage therapist Alan McCullough inappropriately touched her between the legs. This time, he was reportedly working at a different massage business on Commons Drive in Destin. Again, McCullough denied any wrongdoing.
The disciplinary order continues a long and disturbing trend of sexual misconduct by massage therapists statewide. Under Florida law, massage therapists occupy positions of trust, and all sexual activity between the massage therapist and clients is strictly prohibited.
Alan McCullough violated the massage therapist-patient relationship. A massage therapist may not use his relationship with a client to induce or attempt to induce the patient to engage or to engage or attempt to engage the patient in sexual activity outside the scope of practice or the scope of generally accepted examination or treatment of the patient.
Attorney Adam Horowitz has filed numerous sexual misconduct claims against massage therapists on behalf of clients who were inappropriately touched during a massage or spa service. A massage therapist is never permitted to have sexual contact with a client. If you have been a victim of sexual assault or sexual battery during a massage at Massage Envy or any other spa, or if you know someone who has, please contact our law firm at 888-283-9922 or e-mail sexual abuse lawyer, Adam Horowitz, today.