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COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS -- A man accused of posing as a massage therapist and inappropriately touching women appeared in court Thursday.
Prosecutors have charged Robert Battle with misdemeanor crimes, and more serious charges may be filed.
Cottonwood police say they know of a dozen more women, who may be victims of Battle. The new allegations include sexual assault.
Battle made a short court appearance where a judge scheduled another hearing for November.
Last month, prosecutors charged Battle with several counts of practicing massage without a license and one count of sexual battery, all misdemeanors.
Police say those charges stem from accusations by two women who say Battle inappropriately touched them during massage sessions.
Police say since the allegations, more women have come forward.
Investigators are pushing for five additional charges that include felony sex assault.
Cottonwood Police Department spokesman Beau Babka said, "One thing we're sure is there's more than one victim. There were many situations, potential situations that went on, and so we're just trying to do our job and follow up and seek some kind of justice for some of these folks."
Police say Battle recently graduated from a massage therapy school but did not have a license. He was also a trainer at Lifetime Fitness in South Jordan.
Prosecutors are still going over the new cases police have given them to screen and have not yet filed any additional charges.
E-mail: syi@ksl.com
