(Written and Provided by the Didsbury RCMP)

Didsbury RCMP and the RCMP Southern Alberta Serious Crimes Branch investigators have charged a massage therapist after video recordings of female clients were discovered on a lap top computer.

On October 30, Didsbury RCMP were contacted by a computer IT repair technician who reported that he had been contracted to repair a laptop. While making the repair, the technician discovered video files that concerned him. The technician provided the computer in question to police and an investigation was launched.

On November 1, Mark Henning Oliver Blessmann was brought before a justice of the peace and charged with two counts of Voyeurism contrary to Section 162(1)(a) of the Criminal Code. He has been released from custody and is scheduled to make his first court appearance on November 6 at 1:00pm in Didsbury Provincial Court.

Today, November 2, RCMP served a search warrant on a Carstairs residence where the accused operated a massage therapy clinic named Blessman’s Day Spa.

The Massage Therapist Association of Alberta has been notified of the allegations and has suspended Mark Blessmann’s license to practice.

At this time, investigators believe that video recordings of female clients were made without the knowledge or consent of the client.  Specialized investigators from the RCMP Tech Crimes unit will continue to analyse the computer files and clinic records to identify those clients who were victimized. Investigators will be in contact with any identified victims. Additional charges may be laid as the investigation unfolds.