(SEAN MOTT / iNFOnews.ca)

A former North Okanagan massage therapist is facing a sexual assault charge after RCMP started investigating last year.

Dennis Desrocher, born in 1951, is facing one count of sexual assault, which was alleged to have occurred between September 2020 and January 2021, according to court documents.

Desrocher practiced in Enderby until last year. It's not clear whether the charge, which is alleged to have happened in Armstrong, relates to his practice, but it was misconduct with female patients that forced him to give up his license.

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Desrochers admitted to misconduct with seven patients between 2011 and 2018, according to a May 2022 decision from the College of Massage Therapists of BC.

The College alleged he exposed his patients' breasts without properly informing them or when it was not necessary, discussed the size of two patients' bosoms with them and even massaged one woman's breasts without her consent.

There were also two times when he examined one patient's breasts for cancer "when doing so was outside the scope of practice," according to the decision.

He was previously fined and barred from breast examinations in 2019 when the College investigated claims from two women. One was from 2006 and the other from 2012.

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His license to practice as a registered massage therapist was cancelled and he's unable to re-register until 2027.

Desrochers was charged on June 6 and he's not currently in custody. He made his first appearance in Vernon Provincial Court on June 29, but he's scheduled to appear again in Salmon Arm on July 18.

Neither Vernon North Okanagan RCMP nor his lawyer, Julian van der Walle, immediately returned a request for comment.

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