Hearing held on Roberto Santos’s request to reinstate alcohol-and-drug counselor license; Department opposes

A Department of Public Health hearing officer heard testimony on a petition by Roberto Santos to reinstate his licensed alcohol and drug counselor license and said a written decision will be issued within 90 days.

The department told the hearing it does not support reinstatement, pointing to a memorandum of decision that revoked Santos’s license on Oct. 11, 2024, after finding he engaged in sexualized contact and boundary violations with a client. Attorney Fazena, representing the Department of Public Health, said: "the department does not support reinstatement" and summarized findings in department exhibit 1, including that Santos "engaged in [sexual] contact and activities" and exchanged extensive text messages and images with a vulnerable, judicially referred client.

Santos acknowledged the underlying conduct and said he is…