Pensacola masseuse arrested after clients accuse her of inappropriate touching

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) – The owner of an Escambia County spa is free on bail after being arrested on charges of inappropriately touching women during massages.

Escambia County Sheriff’s Office officials arrested 64-year-old Joseph “Gregory” Longe, a massage therapist at Waterfall Massage on E Nine Mile Road, on four counts of assault after six women came forward and accused him of touching them inappropriately.

“An assault is unwanted touching, and in this case a massage was given, but the unwanted touching was that the suspect went too far. They touched areas that the victim was uncomfortable with, that did not feel was part of the massage and that was unwanted, and that is why we filed these charges,” said Sheriff Chip Simmons.

Allegations against Longe

For Jessica Fowler, it is now a haunting memory. The day in September 2022 when, according to her, a massage became a crime.

Fowler is one of six women who have come forward accusing Longe of inappropriate touching.

“He should never be allowed to massage another woman again. Or a man. No one. I think the fact that we all have to live with this forever is not easy. I’m in therapy. I’ve been in therapy about it,” Fowler said.

Fowler filed a report with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, where she found other women with similar stories.

“I’m on Reddit, TikTok, Google everything. I’ve found numerous women,” Fowler said.

Both Fowler and the sheriff encourage any potential victims to come forward.

“The only way to stop it, the only way to protect your children, mothers, sisters, aunts, even husbands, the only way to protect them is to come forward,” Fowler said.

“My message is the same as it is to anyone who feels they are a victim of a crime. Whether it is this specific case or whether it was someone else, you can call us and if you want to make a report, we will take a report and file it. If there is reasonable suspicion that a crime has occurred, we will submit it for judicial review,” Simmons said.

After spending two days behind bars, Longe was released on $70,000 bail on May 12.