Santa Rosa Police: Man Posed As Therapist, Inappropriately Touched Teens
SANTA ROSA (CBS SF) – A 43-year-old man was arrested on Thursday for inappropriately touching minors and giving them marijuana over the course of a year, Santa Rosa police said on Monday.
Police said in a release that Christopher Holden of Santa Rosa "appointed himself" as a physical therapist for a youth soccer team and allegedly massaged teenage girls in unwanted areas.
One teenage girl reported in January 2017 that Holden touched her upper leg just below her hip while treating her for shin splints, according to police.
The girl told police that Holden sent her unsolicited text messages months later, inviting her on outings, telling her how special she was and writing "inexplicit sexual innuendos."
Police said they investigated additional claims that Holden had been giving teenage girls marijuana, inappropriately touching them on his boat Lake Sonoma and making suggestive comments.
Police said at the time, they did not alert Holden of the investigation and were unable to find any evidence of the crimes.
Another girl came forward to police in November 2017, police said, telling them that Holden gave her marijuana several different times.
She also said that Holden once gave her a massage, positioning her foot in front of his crotch so that she could feel his penis through his shorts.
Police said they obtained search warrants for Holden's social media accounts after they received this report.
On Thursday, police arrested Holden after they responded to reports of him smoking marijuana with two teenage girls at his home in Santa Rosa's Junior College neighborhood.
The two teenage girls admitted that Holden gave them the drug, according to police.
Police arrested Holden and seized several items in his home after obtaining a search warrant.
Police said they expect to find evidence of additional crimes after they process all the evidence from their investigation.
Holden was booked into county jail on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts with a child and giving marijuana to a minor. His bail was set at $40,000.
Many teenage girls have previously associated with Holden, according to police.
They ask that anyone with information about the case contact Detective Justin McLean at jmclean@srcity.org or call the tip line at (707) 543-4040. Police said specifically not to call any other numbers to report information.
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