The state of Iowa has suspended the license of a massage therapist accused of improper sexual contact with a customer.

The Iowa Board of Massage Therapy has suspended for three years the license of Junyong Smith of Hudson, owner of Altoona Health Massage. The board cited Smith for improper sexual contact with a client, and with knowingly aiding a person to unlawfully practice as a massage therapist.

According to the board, Smith removed a client’s undergarments and, without consent, touched his genitals during a massage appointment on Dec. 29, 2022. The board alleges Smith also admitted to employing an unlicensed individual to perform massage therapy.

According to a civil lawsuit filed by the customer, after Smith grabbed his penis she began to perform a sex act on him. The man alleges he ended the massage, ran from the business, and dialed 911. Smith is alleged to have apologized to the man and provided a refund. The customer’s lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for assault and battery. Smith has yet to file a response to the lawsuit.

Before applying for reinstatement of her license, Smith must pay a $500 civil penalty and undergo a psychosexual evaluation.

In January 2023, Smith was criminally charged with interference with official acts. Police alleged detectives were investigating Altoona Health Massage after receiving several complaints that the staff was performing sex acts with clients.

While police were at the business, Smith allegedly entered one of the massage rooms and instructed a customer and client to use a secondary exit to leave the building so she would not get into trouble. The criminal charge was later dismissed at the request of prosecutors.

Board issued licenses by mistake

In unrelated matters, the Iowa Board of Massage Therapy recently rescinded the licenses of two individuals who had been mistakenly authorized to practice massage therapy in Iowa.

Board records indicate that in 2022 Ashlynn Kooima completed her massage therapy training at East Valley Institute of Technology – six years after the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork had revoked East Valley’s certification for failing to meet operational or educational requirements.

In 2022, Kooima applied for an Iowa massage license. An Iowa licensure specialist reviewed Kooima’s application but failed to verify East Valley’s standing with the national board. The Iowa board then issued Kooima a license.

Earlier this month, with Kooima employed at Sioux Center Chiropractic as a massage therapist, the board voted to rescind her license. The board noted there was no evidence Kooima applied for a license in bad faith or submitted any incorrect information to the board, but indicated the license should never have been granted.

In 2020, Chuntse Lin completed his massage therapy education at Daniels Institute of Massage and the Healing Arts. In 2021, the national certification board found that the school did not meet its standards or had been found to be operating illegitimately. In June 2022, the Iowa issued Lin a license in error and last week voted to rescind that license.