Police in Aurora say five additional people have come forward accusing a man charged in the in their home using the guise of being a massage therapist in training.
The additional accusers came forward after news broke on Tuesday that Robert Richard Beattie Smith, 28, had been arrested in the sisters’ alleged assaults. Police released Smith’s mugshot in their arrest announcement, prompting the new accusers to come forward.
Smith was originally arrested after the sisters accused him of assaulting them on Sunday. He is accused of contacting a 15-year-old girl who “had posted the loss of her job on a social media website” and was in search of money.
“The victim received a call from an adult male who told her that he was a massage therapist in training and that he needed to perform a few hours of practical massage therapy toward the completion of his training,” Aurora police said. “He then offered to compensate the victim if he was allowed to provide her with a massage session.”
Smith showed up at the teen’s home and began massaging her, and police said as the session progressed, “the suspect sexually assaulted her.” The victim initially did not protest, police said, because of “mental trauma” involved.
The suspect then started a session with the teen’s 21-year-old sister, and that also escalated into a sexual assault, police said. The older sister immediately protested and put an end to the session.
Police say the additional five accusers told investigators that Smith used the same guise before assaulting them.
Collaborative work between the department’s sex crimes unit and its crimes against children unit led to Smith, police said.
Smith also had an outstanding warrant in California “for a similar offense” when he was arrested, police said.
Officials say they are still investigating the alleged assaults and that more victims could come forward.
Smith is being held on $250,000 bond at the Arapahoe County Jail and is next due in court on Tuesday.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JesseAPaul
