Former touring therapeutic massage therapist sentenced to twenty years for sexual assaults in Anchorage

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A former touring therapeutic massage therapist who prosecutors stated abused a number of shoppers in Anchorage was sentenced Friday to twenty years in jail, adopted by 15 years of supervised probation, and shall be required to register as a intercourse offender for all times.

Jason Karpinski, 41, obtained the sentence in Anchorage Superior Court after pleading responsible to 2 counts of second-degree sexual assault, a category B felony, underneath a plea settlement.

Judge Jack McKenna stated the sentence was important for somebody with no prior felony convictions and included a prolonged interval of suspended time and strict probation situations aimed toward monitoring Karpinski and defending the general public.

Under the judgment learn in courtroom, the decide imposed a 25-year sentence with 10 years suspended on one rely and a 15-year sentence with 10 years suspended on the second rely, for 20 years of lively time to serve. The decide additionally ordered 20 years of suspended time that might be imposed if Karpinski violates probation situations.

Karpinski declined to handle the courtroom when given the chance for allocution.

Victim impression statements describe lasting trauma

Several victims gave statements throughout the listening to, describing long-term results they stated have adopted them for years.

One sufferer, recognized as WK, informed the courtroom Karpinski “took a medical emergency and a diagnosis and turned it into a nightmare for me.”

WK stated she sought therapeutic massage remedy after experiencing extreme well being points, together with a number of seizures, and stated Karpinski “took advantage of the fact that I was having seizures.”

Another sufferer, recognized as SY, stated she discovered a therapeutic massage by means of a Groupon deal at a chiropractic workplace as a result of it “felt more comfortable and safe” than going to a person therapist.

She stated she later realized what occurred to her was sexual assault after seeing information protection of Karpinski’s arrest.

A 3rd sufferer stated she was initially informed by police in 2020 that she would possibly solely be capable to file a harassment criticism and later started trying to find different victims on social media. She stated she later realized Karpinski had beforehand been reported to the state licensing board for sexual misconduct.

The decide responded to the sufferer’s criticism about delays within the case, apologizing for the impression of the time it took to rule on Karpinski’s try and withdraw his plea and saying he needed to be thorough as a result of Karpinski had constitutional rights and the choice might be appealed.

Prosecutors: six victims, sample of abuse

Anchorage District Attorney Lindsey Maguigan informed the courtroom the case started with three victims and finally concerned six, describing a “pattern of victimization of vulnerable women.”

Maguigan stated the ladies thought of the “high” private value of testifying at trial and stated the plea settlement mirrored a purpose of prolonged incarceration, intercourse offender remedy and lifelong registry necessities.

“Today we say this was a crime,” Maguigan stated. “It absolutely was a crime and has to be punished as a crime.”

Defense counsel stated the protection meant to keep up appellate rights associated to earlier litigation and didn’t provide sentencing feedback.

Background

Anchorage police arrested Karpinski in 2021 after investigators stated he traveled to shoppers’ properties to supply therapeutic massage companies and marketed by means of social media. Police stated on the time they believed there might be extra victims.

The decide stated Karpinski shall be required to register quarterly for the remainder of his life underneath the Alaska Sex Offender Registry Act after his launch from custody.

Restitution was ordered for a number of victims, with the quantity to be decided by means of a course of that features documentation and a chance for a listening to if Karpinski disputes the quantity.

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