News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Heavy equipment knocked down the building that formerly housed Hop in the Spa last week. The new owner of the property, Roger Johnson of Sisters, told The Nugget he is working on plans to redevelop the property.
The building on the Cascade Avenue site was completely removed. It had stood empty for many months in the wake of the closure of Hop in the Spa after its owner, Mike Boyle, of Sisters, was indicted on September 7, 2021, on multiple counts of practicing massage without a license, two counts of sexual abuse in the first degree (a Class B felony); five counts of sexual abuse in the third degree (a Class A misdemeanor); and one count of assault in the fourth degree (a Class A misdemeanor). The District Attorney alleges that there is a total of 11 victims, all of whom were allegedly victimized while patronizing Hop in the Spa.
One citizen told The Nugget that seeing the building come down represents “closure for a lot of people.”
Boyle has pleaded not guilty on all counts. He is scheduled to stand trial in Deschutes County Circuit Court before Judge Walter Miller starting April 18. A hearing was set last week regarding access to grand jury files and testimony, and for appointment of temporary counsel.
In a separate action, on January 31, 2022, the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists (OBMT) charged Boyle with 13 violations of ORS 687.021 (1) (a) (practicing massage without a license); and one violation of ORS 687.021 (1) (c) (improperly advertising that the person engages in the practice of massage). Those violations carry a total of $14,000 in civil penalties.
A hearing appealing those charges was underway last week, but Jeff Van Laanen, compliance and licensing manager for OBMT told The Nugget, “The hearing was not completed and has been scheduled for continuance later this month.”
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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