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VISTA, Calif. — A registered sex offender from 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.

The defendant was arrested Monday and booked into county jail, according to police in Escondido, where the crime allegedly occurred.

In May, a woman came to police to allege she was 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 alleged victim and suspect were a match, according to Udvarhelyi.

Galashev will be back in court Dec. 22 for a readiness conference and Dec. 28 for a preliminary hearing.