Mission Viejo caregiver, massage therapist charged with raping 1 patient, sexually assaulting 2 clients

Prosecutors on Thursday charged a licensed caregiver and massage therapist in connection with the March 2018 rape of a 77-year old woman in Laguna Woods and two sexual assaults in Mission Viejo in April 2019.

Deputies arrested Russell Bernardino, 43, at his home in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, July 17, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said. A day later, he was charged with felony counts of forcible rape and sexual penetration by a foreign object, as well as four misdemeanor allegations of sexual battery, officials said in a statement from the Orange County District Attorney’s office. He also faces potential sentencing enhancements for allegedly committing a crime against a vulnerable victim over the age of 65.

The defendant was employed between 2017 and 2018 by West Coast Care, an assisted-living company in Orange that provides in-home care to patients in Orange County, sheriff’s department officials said. He allegedly raped a 77-year old woman under his care at her residence in Laguna Woods in March 2018.

Bernardino also worked at a Massage Envy franchise in Mission Viejo, 27620 Marguerite Parkway, Suite A&B, where two clients were sexually assaulted in 2019, sheriff’s officials said.

The first incident there involved a 36-year old woman who said she received a massage from the defendant in April. Then, a 71-year-old woman reported in May that Bernardino assaulted her during a session with him in April.

“Massage Envy is committed to promoting a safe environment for members, guests and service providers at each of our nearly 1,200 franchise locations nationwide,” a representative said in a statement form the company’s corporate office. “We urge anyone that experiences anything other than a safe, quality massage to report it immediately to the franchise location so that it can be investigated.”

Representatives from the Massage Envy franchise location where the assaults were reported did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A representative for West Coast Care could not immediately be reached.

Bernardino was booked into the Orange County Jail, where he was held in lieu of $100,000 bail as of Thursday afternoon, District Attorney’s officials said. He was scheduled to appear for an arraignment hearing on Friday Aug. 9. He potentially faces a maximum sentence of 21 years in prison if convicted of all the charges filed against him.

Investigators suspect he may have been involved in other crimes, OCSD and OCDA officials said. Authorities have asked any potential victims to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-7419. Tips can also be left anonymously with OC Crime Stoppers by dialing 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or visiting https://OCCrimeStoppers.org.