Former Cottonwood masseur’s criminal trial begins Wednesday

CAMP VERDE — A jury awarded nearly $5 million to two women last year in a civil suit against a Cottonwood man who is now about to stand trial on felony sex offense charges stemming from the same incidents that led to the civil suit.

Aaron F. Orrico was initially arrested in November 2016 after he was accused of inappropriately touching women during massage sessions in Sedona. He was sued by two of the women, identified in court documents as M.N. and S.Y. An eight-person Yavapai County Superior Court jury issued a verdict in favor of the two women after a three-day trial in August, and on Sept. 18, awarded almost $5 million in financial damages to them.