‘Tibetan healer’ pleads not guilty to charges of rape and sexual battery

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – 12/11/2015 – The Escondido who claimed to be a "Tibetan healer” pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of rape and sexual battery for allegedly assaulting a woman who hired him for massage services.

Vasiliy "Ardi” Galashev, 61, was ordered held on $200,000 bail.

Galashev faces nine years in prison if convicted, said Deputy District Attorney David Uyar.

3:57 p.m. – A registered sex offender from Escondido who claimed to be a "Tibetan healer” was charged Wednesday with rape and sexual battery for allegedly assaulting a woman who hired him for massage services.

Vasiliy "Ardi” Galashev, 61, was arrested Monday and booked into county jail on suspicion of forcible rape and false imprisonment, according to police in Escondido.

12/9/2015 – A registered sex offender who claimed to be a "Tibetan healer” was behind bars Tuesday for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman who hired him for massage services, authorities reported.

Vasiliy "Ardi” Galashev, 61, was arrested Monday and booked into county jail on suspicion of forcible rape and false imprisonment, according to police in Escondido, where the crime allegedly occurred.

In May, a woman reported being sexually assaulted by Galashev, who called himself "Master Ardi” and claimed to be a "seventh-generation Tibetan healer,” Detective Jeff Udvarhelyi said.

Last month, crime lab personnel determined that DNA evidence provided by the victim and suspect were a match, according to Udvarhelyi.

Galashev, an Escondido resident, was being held on $100,000 bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.