A former Battle Ground-based massage therapist has received three years in prison for inappropriately touching two patients.
On April 12, Eddie Anzalone, 51, of Battle Ground, received his sentence in Clark County Superior Court on convictions of third-degree rape, indecent liberties without forcible compulsion and second-degree assault. He pleaded guilty to the charges Feb. 3.
Anzalone will also have to register as a sex offender for 15 years, according to court documents.
Anzalone was arrested on March 25, 2019, by Battle Ground officers following an investigation into complaints against him. He had been employed at Opdahl Chiropractic and Massage in Battle Ground when the offenses leading to his convictions occurred.
According to a probable cause affidavit for his arrest, the first victim to report Anzalone received treatment at the business for injuries from a vehicle collision that happened in April 2018. During a massage on Feb. 27, 2019, Anzalone placed his face “extremely close to hers,” which made her uncomfortable. He then massaged the victim’s breasts, asking “Do you like it?” multiple times before the victim was able to say “no.”
When the victim asked if she could see another therapist ,Anzalone asked “Why, are you going to fire me?” He waited at the reception desk following the session, which prevented the victim from reporting a complaint, according to the affidavit. The victim later contacted the business’ owner, Monique Opdahl, by phone.
The following day, Opdahl asked Anzalone about the allegations, which she said he never denied, the affidavit states. On March 1, 2019, Anzalone contacted Opdahl to say he had quit.
During a police interview a week later, Opdahl told an officer about a second victim, according to the affidavit. That victim was interviewed later that day. She explained she came forward after learning Anzalone was no longer employed there because she wondered if he had been fired due to actions similar to what happened to her.
The second victim, who received treatment due to a vehicle accident in November, explained that on Feb. 15, 2019, Anzalone “had brushed over her vagina with both of his hands” over a towel, which she initially thought was a mistake.
A week later, the second victim had another appointment with Anzalone toward the end of the day on Feb. 22, 2019, when the therapist was the only one in the office, the affidavit states. After the victim removed her clothes, Anzalone entered the massage room and turned off the lights before the beginning of the session, during which he touched the victim’s breasts and vagina.
The affidavit said the second victim recounted being scared, stating “nobody can hear me if I scream.” She feared she would be raped. When Anzalone left the room, the victim got dressed. Anzalone never mentioned what happened as he let her out of the office, which was locked for the day.
The Washington State Department of Health officially suspended Anzalone’s license to practice massage therapy in July 2019, according to a department release at the time.
