A onetime Bend massage therapist has agreed to the conditions of a plea deal for abusing two clients of Massage Envy when he worked there.

Christopher Rosario, 39, entered a plea of no contest Friday to four charges in Deschutes County Circuit Court. A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as a conviction by the court.

Rosario accepted responsibility for one count of attempting to commit a Class A felony, attempting to commit a Class B felony, second-degree sexual abuse and third-degree sexual abuse.

The abuse occurred in late 2015 and early 2016, when Rosario worked at the Massage Envy location on Bend’s north side. He was arrested in 2016 and charged with nine sex-related felonies and misdemeanors. He initially pleaded not guilty.

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said in 2016 his office had received the first woman’s report soon after the assault in early October 2015 and had been actively investigating the matter when the second report was made in March 2015, according to previous Bulletin reports.

A sentencing hearing is set for April 23 before Judge A. Michael Adler.

With the case’s criminal phase nearing a conclusion, lawyers for the victims will focus on their lawsuit seeking around $11 million from AMC Royal LLC., the corporation that operates Massage Envy, as well as Rosario himself. Massage Envy is a franchised massage and skin care business with 1,200 locations nationwide, according to its website.

— Reporter: 541-383-0325, gandrews@bendbulletin.com