Somerset County massage therapist has license temporarily suspended after sexual assault charge, AG says
HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Somerset County) — A Somerset County massage therapist charged with sexually assaulting a client has had his professional license temporarily suspended, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced Monday.
David Bittner, who practiced massage therapy in Hillsborough Township, was arrested on June 6, 2025, and charged with second-degree sexual assault after allegedly touching a woman in a sexual manner without her consent during a massage session at the fitness center where he worked.
Under an interim consent order filed with the New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy, Bittner agreed to a temporary suspension of his license while the criminal case proceeds and until the board takes further action.
“Licensed professionals who exploit the trust of their clients for their own sexual gratification are a public danger that will not be tolerated,” Attorney General Platkin said. “When criminal sexual conduct is alleged, it is imperative that alleged perpetrators are removed from practice until those charges are resolved.”
“There is no place in our massage therapy industry for professionals who cannot be trusted behind closed doors with their clients,” said Elizabeth M. Harris, acting director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “Temporarily suspending the license of this individual while this criminal case moves forward is the only way to ensure the safety of the public and protect the integrity of the profession.”
The allegations were reported to Hillsborough Township police by a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by Bittner during a massage. He was later indicted and placed under house arrest with an ankle monitor while awaiting trial.
If proven, the alleged conduct would violate the board’s sexual misconduct regulations and constitute grounds for suspension or revocation of Bittner’s license, officials said.
Under the Nov. 20 interim consent order, Bittner must immediately stop practicing massage and bodywork therapy in New Jersey. Any attempt to do so will be considered unlicensed practice and a violation of the order. He is also barred from entering the premises of his former workplace during business hours when clients may be present.
The case is being handled by Deputy Attorney General Michelle Mikelberg under the supervision of Doreen A. Hafner, section chief of the Professional Boards Prosecution Section within the Division of Law.
Patients who believe they have been treated inappropriately by a licensed health care professional may file a complaint online or call the Division of Consumer Affairs at 973-504-6200. The division also offers multilingual resources for reporting sexual misconduct.
