Structural Pest Control Board hears two reinstatement petitions and submits matters for closed‑door deliberation

The Structural Pest Control Board on Aug. 26, 2024 heard two petitions asking that previously revoked licenses be reinstated and submitted both matters to closed‑session deliberation.

At a hearing before Administrative Law Judge Marcy Larson, Caleb Goins Jacobs, 27, asked the board to reinstate his applicator license, describing post‑release steps he said show rehabilitation. Deputy Attorney General Stephanie Lee summarized disciplinary history: a 2019 accusation led to a default decision and revocation effective June 29, 2019 after felony convictions in Riverside County for residential burglary (Penal Code 459) and carrying a loaded unregistered firearm (PC 25850). Lee told the board there is outstanding cost recovery of $1,210 tied to the original board case and presented certified court records for an additional criminal conviction in May 2019 that included a gang‑enhancement allegation. Goins Jacobs testified that he has taken a 16‑hour anger management class, has had no convictions since 2019, denounced gang affiliations and is willing to retake licensure exams and comply with conditions such as cost recovery payment plans.

Goins Jacobs’ grandfather, Brian Goins Sr., testified as a character witness, saying the family has multiple pest‑control businesses and offered to train and supervise his grandson if the board reinstates the license. Lee recommended that, if the board reinstate the license, the board condition reinstatement on payment of outstanding costs and retaking the required examination.

In a separate reinstatement proceeding later the same morning, Emiliano Lopez, 45, sought reinstatement of a field representative license (FR 32172) that the board deemed revoked after a default decision in 2004. Lee said the underlying accusation alleged failure to provide proof of continuing education and related misrepresentation and fraud on a renewal application; the board’s memo listed outstanding cost recovery of $2,372. Lopez said he had relied on an employer‑provided training process (a branch chemist) and that branch records were not available to him when the board requested proof; he acknowledged responsibility for the renewal statement but said he had not received some certified mailings about the case and would pay costs or comply with probationary terms if ordered.

After testimony, both petitioners and the deputy attorney general rested and the ALJ confirmed the matters were submitted to the board. The board announced it would meet in closed session under Government Code Section 11126(c)(3) to deliberate and will issue written decisions at a later date. No final action on either petition was announced at the meeting.

The board’s proceedings included formal admission of documentary exhibits and the certified court records cited by counsel. The hearings were recorded; the petition files list OAH case numbers 2024060934 (Board case 2019‑060) for Goins Jacobs and 2024070428 (Board case 2004‑036) for Lopez.

The board’s next steps are private deliberations in closed session and later written notices to the petitioners with any conditions the board adopts.