Wednesday, February 13 2013, 12:04 AM CST
Ex-massage therapist enters plea, victims in court
By Whitney Clark/KTVL.com
MEDFORD, Ore. -- While Charles Lang won't face any time behind bars for sex abuse, he says the charges cost him his career.
"This last year has given me a lot of time to reflect -- obviously," Lang said in court. "And I've lost everything, including my 30 years in this community -- that includes my reputation."
Lang, a former massage therapist in Medford, pleaded no contest to multiple sexual abuse charges on Tuesday.
Prosecutor David Hoppe says the plea bargain is part of three separate cases. Six victims say Lang inappropriately touched their breasts during a massage. Lang told them he had a special license to give breast massages, however no such license exists.
One of the victims was his student at Rogue Community College. While she wanted to remain anonymous, she says Lang also offered her marijuana.
The plea was also a relief for Susan Clark, the first victim to come forward back in 2011.
"It felt good," Clark said. "It felt like a relief to finally be able to go on with my life, and to try to put this behind me and go forward."
Lang used to own Nepenthe Massage in downtown Medford. He was sentenced to five years probation and community service, and now is a registered sex offender.
Diana Nott with the Oregon Department of Massage Therapists says the board revoked his license last year. She says he'll most likely never get his license back.
"The issue happened during session," Nott said. "The likelihood of being allowed to have a license is probably pretty slim."
These types of cases don't happen often, Nott said. She says there are about 7,000 registered massage therapists in Oregon. In 2010 there were four sexual violations by registered massage therapists in the state, and the same number in 2011.
But because of a loophole in the system, Nott says the board can't investigate those who are unlicensed, -- even if abuse is reported.
"We don't have jurisdiciton over their conduct professionally, because they're not licensed professionals," Nott said.
In court Lang said he never meant to offend anybody. He says his main goal was always to heal.
Hoppe says the victims won't get any money in the case, they're just happy justice was served.
MEDFORD, Ore. -- While Charles Lang won't face any time behind bars for sex abuse, he says the charges cost him his career.
"This last year has given me a lot of time to reflect -- obviously," Lang said in court. "And I've lost everything, including my 30 years in this community -- that includes my reputation."
Lang, a former massage therapist in Medford, pleaded no contest to multiple sexual abuse charges on Tuesday.
Prosecutor David Hoppe says the plea bargain is part of three separate cases. Six victims say Lang inappropriately touched their breasts during a massage. Lang told them he had a special license to give breast massages, however no such license exists.
One of the victims was his student at Rogue Community College. While she wanted to remain anonymous, she says Lang also offered her marijuana.
The plea was also a relief for Susan Clark, the first victim to come forward back in 2011.
"It felt good," Clark said. "It felt like a relief to finally be able to go on with my life, and to try to put this behind me and go forward."
Lang used to own Nepenthe Massage in downtown Medford. He was sentenced to five years probation and community service, and now is a registered sex offender.
Diana Nott with the Oregon Department of Massage Therapists says the board revoked his license last year. She says he'll most likely never get his license back.
"The issue happened during session," Nott said. "The likelihood of being allowed to have a license is probably pretty slim."
These types of cases don't happen often, Nott said. She says there are about 7,000 registered massage therapists in Oregon. In 2010 there were four sexual violations by registered massage therapists in the state, and the same number in 2011.
But because of a loophole in the system, Nott says the board can't investigate those who are unlicensed, -- even if abuse is reported.
"We don't have jurisdiciton over their conduct professionally, because they're not licensed professionals," Nott said.
In court Lang said he never meant to offend anybody. He says his main goal was always to heal.
Hoppe says the victims won't get any money in the case, they're just happy justice was served.
Related Stories
- National News
- International News
Automotive
Find valuable information about buying your next car, including price quotes and your latest automotive news.
We Know Why You're Awake
We Know Why You're Awake. We can help.
Closings & Delays
Check here for closures and delays.
Community Calendar
Looking for something to do? Check the events calendar.
Gas Prices
Gas prices are on everybody's mind. So News10 is working with Gas Buddy to help you find the cheapest gas in the area.
Word of the Day
The Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo is sponsoring our "Word of the Day" contest. Click image to see details!
2013 Last Band Standing
Enter this years Last Band Standing! Click to enter online and find out about the contest.
No Text Zone
Help make our roads safe and you could win prizes! Read the official rules here!
KTVL Top Stories
Gas prices rising
Children get professional safety tips
Locals try to win $600 million
Suspect takes off in stolen car with kids inside
Timber county troubles
Manhunt scaled down
More than 50 people injured at parade
Bear camp road open
Police find suspect hiding in trailer
Officers learn how to handle unusual high pressure situations
Parents are the key to keeping kids sharp
Sheriff says recent crime shows budget cuts are not an option
Community health grants
Money measures on the ballot making for high voter turnout
Detectives say lingerie stand ad may be a scam
Powerball jackpot grows to $600 million
Voter turnout is strong in Josephine County
Bill would regulate pot retailers
Oregon AG: It is too late to appeal Kinkel sentence
The search for Susan Powell's body may come to an end
Your handbag: A breading ground for bacteria
Bill could legalize medical pot retailers
California sees drop in unemployment rate
BLM, Forest Service open Bear Camp Road
AP Review: Tea Party tax returns show activism on budget
Ex-loan officer pleads guilty in real estate case
Oregon attorney general opposes Kinkel appeal
Poll: Americans are unsatisfied with government
Need to save a duck? There is an app for that
Meet Terry Croft
The record is making a comeback
Restaurant serves up lion
Britt Festival opens up ticket sales to non-members
Drug use results in shooting
Medford School District experiments with year-round learning
A fourth home is burglarized in local neighborhood
Man admits to identity theft
Search for drive-by shooter continues
Candidates for Eagle Point School Board Position 2
Rural counties vulnerable to Cartels
Rain puts damper on fire season
Police say Middle School Fire was Intentional
Police release shooting suspects names
Park officials pitch budget plan
Boaters beware: Tree Danger Ahead
Crowds queue up for Britt tickets
New charter school is taking applications
Watch for milestones
Economists: Oregon tax collections will be up
Tree causes hazard in Rogue River
Police recover stolen handgun
Lawmaker wants rule-breakng coaches to pay
Driver rolls car into ditch
Quinoa : Nature's supergrain
Obama cleans house at IRS
Don't skip breakfast
Blending the fruit
Dressing up the quinoa
A tasty start
Meet Eva Albert
Just wants treats
Joke in the sky
Mail theft suspects face federal charges
Remembering fallen police officers
Resident's home hit by bullets
Police say cartels moved in to rural Klamath County
Migrant summer school growing in Medford
Park officials open Crater Lake's North Entrance Road
Early gunshots startle nearby neighbors
Holder: Potential civil rights violations at IRS
Police: Shooting was targeted attack
Drug raid nets 30
Remembering the fallen
States urged to reduce alcohol limit
Start thinking about your taxes now
Drug operation leads to 30 arrests; 4 pounds of meth seized
Police look for targets of early morning shooting
SWAT enters home; police make arrest
Police are investigating an early morning shooting
Networks have ties to White House
Meet Rachel Jensen Nordahl
This is Eagle Rock Elementary School
Man charges elephant
Police close in on shooting suspects
Police investigate morning shooting
Gun shop fined for lead exposure to workers
A hard days' night for Josephine County deputies
Firefighters respond to fire alarm at a local school
Investigators search for cause of fire
Two men are running for one seat on Eagle Point's School Board
MMW Back In Time: Train robber tells all
Bug boom bothering growers
Missing Eureka girl is OK
Finding more summer school funding
Holder justifies Justice Department's probe into AP phone records
State house extends hospital, nursing home tax
Man fights federal fine for stripping at TSA checkpoint
Fire crews contain bathroom fire at Ashland Middle School
Police offer details in drive-by shooting
Alert neighbor helps capture burglary supsect
Isn't she beautiful
Angelina Jolie has double mastectomy to prevent breast cancer
Firefighters respond to fire at Ashland Middle School
Oregon sees another drop in unemployment rate
Lawmakers look to extend hospital, nursing home tax
Sheriff: Terrain, darkness trapped hunter
Police release description of shooting suspect
Douglas County Sheriff identified dead woman as Ashland transient
Top IRS official: Agency showed a "lack of sensitivity"
Bone marrow needle takes a back seat
The only chance
Trying to find the perfect match
Swab your cheek
Filing out the form
Meet Wayne Ingram
Ground control, this song is for you
Ice invasion
Fire destroys two Central Point apartments
Onion farmer faces fines for harrassment
Tablerocks staffing being cut
New methadone clinic is still a concern to some
Warm water dangerous to salmon
Vortex Verdict
Kicking off summer with learning
Maximum security inmates get creative about killing time
Budget cuts putting the squeeze on Josephine County Jail
California Democrats debate how to use state's surplus
Police continue search for murder suspect; bring in cadaver dogs
Justice Department obtains AP phone records
Lawmakers: No gas-powered engines on Waldo Lake
Fire scorches apartments
Brothers speak out
OJ asks for new trial
Study: Formula can help breast-feeding moms
Fancy, but easy
University system disputes president pay survey
Budget cuts mean fewer firefighters for wildfire season
Government works to appeal ruling on morning-after pill
Sequestration means no garbage cans at Table Rocks
Oregon gas prices jump 26 cents
Officials: Two apartments are total loss after fire
Obama: IRS targeting is 'outrageous'
Firefighters tackle apartment complex fire
Ashland Mountain Adventures fills in the missing piece
GOP: President should condemn IRS misconduct
Filling a need
A whole fleet of bikes
Ready to race
Don't worry about skill level
Meet Rena Lyons-Young
Homeowners worry about land giving way
Police search for suspect in armed robbery
Three suspects arrested in stolen vehicle investigation
Sexual assault reports on the rise
Semi truck backs up traffic headed onto I-5
Dutch Bros. gives back to local charity
University of Oregon Athlete drowns
Multiple agencies make bust and recover stolen goods
Fruit fly concerns Oregon growers
Car burglary suspect returns to crime scene
Neighbor stops home robbery
Growers market is now open
Gravestones are scheduled for repair
UPDATE: robbery suspect still at large
Vehicle fire closes lanes
Neighbor stops burglary
Armed robber takes off with coffee stand cash
Irrigation concerns rise in Umpqua Valley
Ohio women being found gives hope to Kyron's mother
Smokejumpers trained to deal with illegal marijuana grow sites
Neighbors react to suspected shooting connection in their neighborhood
Murder charges dropped in cold case
All about the caves
Charges dropped in Northern California murder case
Investigators look for cause in early morning fire
Ready to go
Silver spire added to One World Trade Center
Use rock-n-roll to avoid surgery
Sheriff: Homeowners get video of burglary suspect
State lowers flag to honor Oregon soldier
Farmers could face irrigation restriction
Report: Talking points on Libya attacks were changed
Families paint picture of Cleveland kidnapping suspect
Economist: Indicators point to growth in Oregon
Sisikyou County prosecutors dismiss murder charges in Zaccaglini case
A Medford man escapes a house fire
Experts: Dry summer is likely
Police couldn't contain suspect
Families speak out about Cleveland kidnappings
Is there a scandal tied to the Benghazi attacks? Dems say no, GOP says yes
Meet Linda Frederick
Police continue search for drive-by suspect
HazMat crews head to Table Rock for training
New recruits undergo intensive fire training
Mr Thoms to reopen after five year hiatus
New PSA shocks students
Medford Fire and Rescue request new station
Man matching suspect's description is spotted
Helicopter helped ground crew find lost hikers
Shasta sheriff: Search for murder suspect is like "warfare"
Esquivel among group seeking vote on immigrant driver's card
Fire, police departments make budget pitch
Autopsy confirms missing man's identity
Details begin to emerge in Cleveland kidnapping case
Doctors go digital
Treat mom to a taste of the islands
Smoke jumpers land in marijuana grow site
Police make arrest in drive-by shooting
Police find meth, Ecstasy in home near middle school
Autopsy confirms man's identity, says death was accidental
Jodi Arias hopes for death penalty
Community sponsored taps is bringing in big business to a local brewery
Cleveland man arraigned on rape, kidnap charges
We just brew
Pales, ales and stouts
Sponsor a keg
Buy a pal a pint
Meet Lisa Buntjer
Looking for a lap
Psychic's prediction draws criticism
New doggie day-care in town
Harry & David reports on third quarter
West Medford shooting may be gang-related
Illegal trash dumping
Future of law enforcement banking on levy
Hannah's looks to expand
Fire consumes car on freeway
Arias verdict brings cheers and tears
Bill would make voter registration automatic
Jury convicts woman in ex-boyfriend's death
It's been a good week on Wall Street
Sunshine is good for the heart
Exercise or pay more
Jury has reaced verdict in Arizona murder case
Easy to grab
Immunization advocates see increase in exemption rates
Report: Some hospitals charge more for same care
Police: No one hurt in drive-by shooting
UPDATED: Shasta County Sheriff investigates triple homicide
Trooper accused of fondling makes plea deal
Cleveland rescue gives new hope to Kyron Horman's dad
Tears of joy as missing women found
Dishwasher gains fame after rescue
What goes good with beer? Doughnuts
It's a local thing
A beer for bicyclists
Meet Lorri Thomas
Police think a drive-by is shooting gang related
MMW Back In Time: Tragedy At Tunnel 13
Rain stalls fire season
California crews preparing people for wildfires
Humboldt deputies search for missing teen
Local school is closing
Storm leaves some without power
News10 Pet of the Week: Zoey
Dow hits new milestone as it closes above 15,000
Coast Guard plans hearings on Columbia bridge
The nightmare is over
Funeral home director continues search for bomb suspect's burial spot
Take me home!
FDA pushes for more warnings on tanning beds
Flake that fish
State House OKs rights for domestic workers
Study shows distracted driving deaths are underreported
Missing woman breaks free; calls for help
Experts acknowledge issues with terror database
Brewing it English-style
Power outage in Shady Cove
Try the sampler
Family-friendly brewery
Grab something to eat
Meet Melodye Hood-Huelsmeier
Injured pony raises questions
Fire season may be just days away
Newsmax Headlines
Business News
Gauge of US economy's future health up in April
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A measure of the U.S. economy's future health rose in solidly in April, buoyed by a sharp rise in applications to build new homes and apartments.
Consumer Info
BC-US--Dow Record-Three Personal Stories, 1st Ld-Writethru,1173
Dow Record: Three tales of ups, downs and changes
AP Photo FX102, FX103
Eds: With BC-US--Dow Record. Adds photos.
By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- When the Dow first crossed 14,000, investors were overjoyed. ...
Entertainment News
Get This
ON THIN ICE?
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- He was already on thin ice with the law when he failed to meet the conditions of his probation.
Science/Tech News
IN THE NEWS: LABOR GROUP SAYS CONDITIONS AT APPLE PLANTS IMPROVING
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A labor group Apple joined to assess working conditions at three manufacturing plants in China, where its products are made, says conditions are getting better.
