A former Mets massage therapist was charged with sexually abusing two female trainees at his swanky East Side salon, according to court papers.
One of the alleged victims, who slapped masseuse Carlos Araque with a civil suit on Friday, said the 50-year-old convinced her to disrobe at his Asian-inspired Essential Therapy parlor on East 25th Street so that he could teach her rubdown techniques last May.
But instead of sticking to the hot stone massage, Araque allegedly groped and fondled the woman, whose name is being withheld by The Post, according to her Manhattan civil suit.
Araque, of White Plains, had been arrested in 2007 for allegedly pulling similar, sick moves on a female patron. He pleaded guilty to practicing without a license and was sentenced to five years’ probation in September 2007, records state.
But shortly after his probation ended, Araque, who once kneaded the sore muscles of Mets greats such as Jose Reyes and Mike Piazza, improperly touched a second trainee at the massage parlor in February 2013, according to a criminal complaint.
Araque pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual abuse and practicing without a proper license. He is due in Criminal Court on May 20.
He did not return messages seeking comment. His attorney, Steven Questore, declined to comment.