A Fountain Hills man is accused of sexually assaulting at least five women at his business in the East Valley.

Gary Wayne Nash, 62, faces multiple counts total of sexual assault, fraudulent schemes and artifices, and practicing without a license.

According to court documents, five women between 37 and 53 reported to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office of having been sexually assaulted by Mr. Nash on multiple occasions between 2013 and February 2020 while seeking colonic, massage therapy, homeopathic and holistic treatment at Fountains of Youth Renewal Center in Fountain Hills.

Authorities found Mr. Nash never had or applied for credentials or licensing to practice in Arizona under state law. Mr. Nash allegedly used deception as a licensed and trained practitioner for monetary and referral gains for his business and personal sexual gratification, records state.

"With some of the victims he was very slow and methodical into grooming," Sheriff Paul Penzone said Tuesday afternoon. "He started off doing things that would be normal practice in this type of a field until he got to a point where he felt that he could comfortably move forward and commit a sexual violation against them. In other cases it was a little more expeditious."

One woman reportedly paid Mr. Nash over $60,000 for treatment and essential oils, records state.

A second woman told MCSO she never gave consent and knew what was being done to her was wrong. But she said she froze and was scared to say anything out of humiliation. Mr. Nash apparently didn’t charge her for the sessions but requested referrals from her business.

After her first visit in April 2019, a third woman was offered a free three-day session in exchange for referrals. The woman returned in early February and was allegedly sexually assaulted again. She got to the point where she felt disgusted by Mr. Nash’s alleged actions and told him they were inappropriate.

Mr. Nash reportedly deflected her questions, saying his practices are unconventional and if he advertised, someone would misunderstand him and shut his business down.

A fourth woman visited Mr. Nash about 10 times in 2013. She said his actions progressed to the point that she felt violated and ashamed, records state. She then stopped going to him for massage therapy.

A fifth woman visited Mr. Nash in March 2019, but quickly caught onto Mr. Nash’s acts despite him reportedly saying the techniques were new and required for healing. The woman stopped seeing him for services and never spoke to him since then.

On Monday, March 2, MCSO executed a search warrant at Mr. Nash’s business and arrested him without incident. He was booked into jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond with court dates March 10 and 13.

"The confidentiality and trust expected in a doctor/patient relationship was the tactic this criminal used to abuse victims in their vulnerable state," Mr. Penzone stated in a news release. "This guise in portraying himself as a legitimate medical provider is a disturbing and disgusting predatory abuse."

Anyone with information regarding this case or Mr. Nash can contact MCSO at 602-876-8477.

The Daily Independent has reached out to Mr. Nash via Facebook regarding the charges against him. His profile links to a Facebook page for his business, which has four “likes” but no other notable content. A website for his business was not found.