STRASBURG TWP., Pa. — A 61-year-old Strasburg Township man who falsely claimed to be a chiropractor has been charged with sexually assaulting nine individuals, including a child, over a span of more than two decades, authorities announced.
John Miller Esh faces 19 criminal charges, including aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, and corruption of minors. He also faces a felony charge for practicing chiropractic care without a license. According to investigators, Esh used the guise of offering health treatments to engage in sexual misconduct beginning as early as 2002.
Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office reported that all of the alleged victims are members of the Plain community, primarily residing in Lancaster County. Esh reportedly conducted treatments at his home in the 1700 block of Beaver Valley Pike and other locations within and beyond county lines. One of the victims, now 18, was a minor during the alleged assault, which occurred approximately two and a half years ago.
The victims sought Esh’s help for a variety of issues, including fertility, low energy, injury recovery, and pain relief. Many underwent repeated sessions—some more than 100—during which Esh is accused of sexually penetrating or touching them beneath their clothing without consent. According to court documents, Esh never clearly explained which body parts he would be touching before beginning his so-called treatments.
A 51-year-old woman testified that Esh performed massages on her at her Drumore Township home between 2016 and 2017. She said he began to sexually penetrate her under the pretense of checking her cervix, after she had already paid between $18,000 and $20,000 for dozens of sessions. “He told me not to tell anyone what he had done or it could get him in trouble,” she told police.
Esh admitted to sexual contact during sessions
Another woman, now 36 and from West Earl Township, said Esh inappropriately touched and penetrated her during two sessions about eight years ago. She told police she never returned after the incidents. Victims consistently reported that Esh never disclosed the nature of the physical contact they would receive and often framed the abuse as medical necessity.
Esh acknowledged to police that he had performed massages and chiropractic-like treatments on about 100 patients in the Plain community over the past 10 years, despite having no formal medical or chiropractic training. He admitted to penetrating and touching female patients during the sessions, though claimed it was to “help his patients.”
The investigation began in February after a complainant reported Esh had sexually assaulted multiple women across Lancaster County. A grand jury reviewed the testimonies of all nine victims before charges were filed.
Esh was released after posting $50,000 bail.