TOLEDO, Ohio — A former Toledo massage therapist was convicted of two charges Wednesday after he was accused of inappropriately touching clients during massage sessions and practicing with a license expired by 20 years.
According to Lucas County court documents, 69-year-old Thomas Fong withdrew his previous plea of not guilty, which he made in November 2023, and entered an Alford plea to a fifth-degree felony charge of practicing medicine without certification and a third-degree misdemeanor of sexual imposition.
An Alford plea is not an admission of guilt. A defendant entering an Alford plea agrees to be found guilty without admitting they committed the crime.
Fong is required to register as a sex offender. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 12 at 9 a.m.
Fong is also facing charges of sexual imposition and practicing medicine without a license in Wood County for separate incidents. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges but is scheduled to reappear in Wood County court for a change of plea hearing on Feb. 13.
A Lucas County grand jury indicted Fong on both charges in July 2023 after two victims said he touched them inappropriately while posing as a licensed massage therapist. According to the State Medical Board of Ohio, Fong has not been licensed in the state since 2003.
EARLIER COVERAGE: Toledo massage therapist indicted on charges of sexual imposition, practicing without license
Editor's note: This story has been edited to correct the plea made by Fong.
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