Tri-Cities massage therapist accused of a 5th sexual misconduct incident
A Tri-Cities massage therapist has been accused of sexually touching a fifth patient, according to the Washington state Department of Health.
It is one of several recent actions taken by the state related to health care workers licensed in the Tri-Cities area.
Kyle Stephen Pierce was charged in Benton County Superior Court with four counts of felony indecent liberties as a health care provider from spring 2019 to late 2021, before the additional allegation was made.
Charges in the court case led to a suspension of his license in October to protect patient safety and public health.
A trial is scheduled April 10.
In the latest allegation, the Washington state Department of Health accuses Pierce of massaging the breast of a patient under her sheet in June 2017.
He previously was accused of inappropriately grabbing or massaging three other patients while working at Elements Massage between May 2019 and June 2020.
He was fired from Elements Massage for breaking the safe draping protocol and performing unauthorized massage, according to state documents.
Washington state law requires prior written consent for breast massage, special training for the massage therapist and appropriate draping.
In November 2021 Pierce was working at A La Mode Spa and Salon in Richland and was accused of inappropriately touching another patient.
Other Department of Health actions
▪ The registered nurse credential of Krystabel Briony Pitts was placed on probation for at least a year.
The Department of Health said Pitts of Benton County falsified forms and a test card to provide proof of negative COVID-19 test results for her and another person in August 2021.
Pitts is required to have her employer send four quarterly reports to the state’s Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission while she is on probation.
She must complete courses in the Nurse Practice Act and in ethics and boundaries.
She also is required to submit a 1,000-word report on the importance of ethics and honesty in nursing and how she will apply what she learned researching the report and from coursework.
▪ Charges have been withdrawn against registered nursing assistant Nicolle M.C. Rushton.
She had been charged with unprofessional conduct after being accused of possibly being intoxicated while at work at a supported living facility in Kennewick.
She had taken a medication with side effects that can include drowsiness and dizziness.
▪ The certified medical assistant license of Jaimi H. Apple has been suspended.
Apple of Franklin County was granted a license in 2021 on the condition that she comply with a substance monitoring program.
However, she withdrew from the monitoring program because of medical issues and failed to check in about required testing, according to the Washington state Department of Health.
