Massage therapist Jason Paul Hagon pleads guilty to indecently assaulting clients dating back to 2009
A southern suburbs massage therapist due to stand trial over indecently assaulting clients dating back to 2009 has changed his plea at the last moment.
Police & Courts
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A southern suburbs massage therapist who was due to stand trial charged over the indecent assault of nine of his clients has changed his plea at the last minute.
Jason Paul Hagon, 53, pleaded guilty on Tuesday afternoon to 11 counts of indecent assault just before he was due to stand trial.
Hagon was originally charged and pleaded not guilty to 19 counts of aggravated indecent assault and six counts of rape.
Prosecutor Dr Peter Salu said given the pleas to the 11 counts of indecent assault against nine victims, the not guilty pleas to rape were accepted with satisfaction. The element of aggravation was also removed from the indecent assault charges.
“The rapes will also become indecent assaults upon the basis that the touching fell short of penetration,” he said.
Defence counsel for Hagon, Ryan Williams, agreed with Dr Salu.
Hagon was first arrested in November of 2021 and charged with engaging in sexual intercourse without consent.
In June 2022 he was charged with offending relating to four more women with the charges including rape and aggravated indecent assault.
Hagon was temporarily banned from providing services as a hypnosis coach who also offered remedial massage, personal training and life coaching under the business name “Hagon’s Heroes”.
In August, 2022, the Director of Public Prosecutions laid a new set of charges, which totalled 19 counts of aggravated indecent assault and six counts of rape.
He pleaded not guilty to those charges – which related to eight alleged victims – and was ordered to stand trial.
On January 20 this year, Hagon again faced court charged with three counts of indecent assault.
Two of those charges have since been withdrawn but he continues to face a lone charge.
It is alleged he committed the offences on August 12, 2009.
Hagon pleaded not guilty to aggravated indecent assault and rape, but entered guilty pleas to indecent assault dating between 2009 and 2021.
Hagon will next appear in the District Court for sentencing submissions later this year.
Judge Joanne Tracey ordered a home detention compliance report be obtained before Hagon’s next appearance.
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