Hearing held on emergency discharge of Highchase resident Justin Cianci; record left open for video evidence

A Department of Public Health hearing officer held a Feb. 24, 2025, hearing on an emergency discharge request for resident Justin Cianci of Highchase LLC and left the record open for video evidence, with a written decision to follow.

The request was filed by Highchase LLC and is logged as document number 250213. At the hearing, Dr. Kulip Singh Bogle, owner and administrator of Highchase LLC, described repeated incidents at the facility that, he said, have made staff and other residents fearful and prompted the emergency discharge request. "He's been very angry and that has got progressively worse," Dr. Bogle testified. He told the hearing officer the facility has paid about $34,000 to address repeated plumbing damage attributed to the resident and said staff reported threats posted online, threats to "blow the place up," and aggressive behavior toward staff and other residents.

The hearing officer admitted six exhibits into the record, including the emergency discharge request (Exhibit 1), a notice to leave (Exhibit 2), a notification (Exhibit 3), the determination and notice of hearing (Exhibit 4), an affidavit from Dr. Bogle (Exhibit 5), and a discharge plan (Exhibit 6). The officer instructed Dr. Bogle to submit copies of the videos and recordings he referenced and said, "Please send those to my office by the end of this week. By 02/28/2025." The officer said the record would close after receipt of that material and a decision would be issued.

Resident Justin Cianci contested some of the factual claims. Cianci testified that he did not smear feces "not all over the walls" and denied putting feces on potato chips. He said one person had hacked his phone and used artificial intelligence to create or manipulate videos portraying him making threats; Cianci said the person had previously told him he would use such material to coerce him. "I feel that I should be allowed to back at ICHASE. I I would like to go back to live there," Cianci said, adding he had nowhere else to go and that a shelter would be inappropriate.

Alex Thompson, a clinician who identified themself as Cianci's clinician (LMSW), told the hearing officer that a trooper left a voicemail saying investigators were treating Cianci as a victim in the video matter and were still investigating. Thompson also said the hospital where they work cannot place patients in housing and recommended coordinating with Cianci's outpatient providers at United Services on a placement. At one point Thompson stated that group-home placements could take six to eight months to arrange.

Dr. Bogle said staff levels at Highchase are limited, noting there are normally two staff on duty and that the facility recently has had just one; he said the facility houses about 22 residents. He described damage to Cianci's room, including a destroyed mattress, holes in walls and strong odors, and said one new staff member left after encountering the behavior. Dr. Bogle said the facility had arranged for Cianci to receive outpatient counseling and medication management but that the behavior continued and that other residents and staff were "very scared." Dr. Bogle requested a discharge, saying the facility could not provide 24-hour supervision Cianci, in his view, needs.

Cianci said he was worried about personal belongings left at Highchase, including his brother's ashes. The hearing officer asked Dr. Bogle to secure those belongings; Dr. Bogle said they had been packed and placed in a safe location.

No final determination was made at the hearing. The hearing officer specifically left the record open for the facility to provide the cited videos and recordings and said the record would close and a written decision would be issued after that evidence is received.

The hearing lasted one session; the officer asked parties to submit the requested evidence by Feb. 28, 2025, and indicated a decision would follow after review.