Cosmetologist Angelina Pedraza testifies in bid to reinstate license, board hears history of citations and unpaid fines

Angelina Leon Pedraza testified on May 19, 2025, at an administrative hearing before the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology for a petition to reinstate her cosmetologist license, telling the panel she wants to return to work in senior-care settings and to support her family.

The hearing record opened with Administrative Law Judge Chantal Samponga and a Deputy Attorney General presenting Exhibit 1, a petition packet that the state said included the petition for reinstatement form, supporting documents, prior stipulated decisions and inspection reports. Deputy Attorney General Kevin J. Sheddig summarized the board’s disciplinary history for Pedraza: a cosmetology license issued October 5, 1999; an earlier probation arising from a 2013 accusation; revocation following a default for failure to appear at a 2017 hearing; and, the state said, eight citations over 2010–2018 for health and safety violations, employing unlicensed persons and operating in an expired establishment. The packet was admitted into evidence as Exhibit 1.

Pedraza testified that she is 59 and has been caring for family members, including a 95‑year‑old father and a son with mental-health challenges, and that she wishes to work at a senior care facility if her license is reinstated. She told the board she completed a rules-and-regulations class at Santa Ana Community College and submitted four character reference letters with her petition but acknowledged she did not include a personal statement or additional documentation describing rehabilitation in the petition form. She admitted to having “quite a number of violations” while licensed and confirmed an outstanding balance the board says is $5,195 in fines and cost recovery that must be paid before a new or reinstated license can issue.

Board members questioned Pedraza about rehabilitation, supervision and public-safety responsibilities. Board president Tanya Fairley, identified in the hearing as a salon owner and industry member, emphasized the board’s public-safety role and pressed Pedraza on how she would ensure sanitary practices and rule compliance if reinstated. Pedraza said she now intends to work as an employee rather than run a salon and described plans to seek work in a senior facility; she told the panel she would “only work myself” if reinstated and that she would refuse to hire or permit unlicensed coworkers in the future. She acknowledged past lapses in oversight of workers in her establishments.

The state presented the history that a petition for reinstatement in 2020 was denied in 2021 and that prior disciplinary documents showed a 2014 probation, a 2017 petition to revoke probation, and a 2018 inspection that cited her for working with a revoked license. The record reflects the board has cited her across multiple years for a mix of health-and-safety and licensing violations.

No decision was announced at the close of testimony; the administrative law judge told the parties a written decision will issue within 30 days of the hearing. The matter was then closed and the board moved on to other proceedings.

Pedraza’s hearing included admission of the petition packet and testimony from the petitioner about her family responsibilities, training, and plans if reinstated. The record reflects outstanding fines and a multi-year disciplinary history that board members repeatedly identified as the principal context for their oversight and concern.