Massage Therapist Arrested Following Sexual Assault

Thousand Oaks police arrested 67-year-old Gary Sperling, from Woodland Hills, in connection with a sexual assault that occurred on March 4 at the Thousand Oaks massage business he worked at.

Investigators say a 25-year-old victim went to Massage Envy, at 3835 east Thousand Oaks Boulevard, for a treatment but during the massage Sperling sexually assaulted the woman.

After an investigation identified Sperling as the prime suspect, he was arrested and charged with Sodomy of an Incompetent Patient and Lewd Act on a Dependent Adult.

Sperling told authorities he has worked as a massage therapist at several Massage Envy locations in the past nine years. None in Santa Barbara.

Sperling was booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura on $100,000 bail.

Investigators said they are not aware of any additional victims, but encourage anyone with information about Sperling to contact East County Major Crimes Detective Eric Taylor at 805-371-8397.