Psychologist who will plead guilty to sexually assaulting young patient still has license to practice
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Hawaii Island clinical psychologist who agreed to a plea deal for sex crimes against a 14-year-old patient still has his license to practice, HNN Investigates has confirmed.
The state agency with the power to revoke Reuben Lelah’s certification has not — despite first being tipped off to the therapist’s crimes last summer.
In June, Lelah was indicted for sexually assaulting a teenaged boy in his care.
Lelah has agreed to plead guilty to two counts of second-degree sexual assault, but has yet to be stripped of his license. According to the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Lelah’s license to practice psychology in Hawaii remains current, valid and in good standing.
Records show the 72-year-old has been free since he bonded out of the Hawaii Community Correctional Center last July as he awaits sentencing next month.
“If the state does not hear that and realize that they have a problem, then we all need to be worried about the function of our state government,” said Camron Hurt, program manager for the government watchdog group Common Cause Hawaii.
“I would think a crime against your patient community would be grounds to revoke your license immediately, immediately,” he said.
Records revealed the victim’s family was seeking help from Lelah’s Kona-based non-profit, The Loving Service Foundation. The abuse started in June 2019 and continued for seven months, court records allege. During that time, Lelah convinced the boy’s parents to let the victim live with him.
According to the non-profit’s website, which has since been taken down, the facility specialized in treating children and teens who were dying or suffering from chronic illness.
Hurt said, “To prey on vulnerable sick youth, some of whom are terminally ill, that is a level of evil I don’t think the regular person can just comprehend.”
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Days after Lelah’s criminal indictment, the DCCA was served with a subpoena in relation to a civil lawsuit filed by attorney Jeffrey Foster on behalf of the underage victim.
The document — dated July 13, 2023 — requests a “full and complete file regarding any complaints” made against Lelah going back to when his license was issued in 1995.
DCCA said it made the Regulated Industries Complaints Office aware of the case and added that, “RICO has a pending matter involving Lelah.”
HNN Investigates then asked the agency if it has the ability to immediately revoke a provider’s license?
In short, the answer is no.
“If there is an alleged violation of the laws or rules, the licensee must first be investigated and afforded proper due process before action may be taken against a license,” DCCA Communications Officer William Nhieu said, in a statement to HNN.
“All licenses remain current, active, and in good standing until the board takes formal action against said license or a licensee fails to meet a statutory or administrative rule requirement to maintain said license (e.g., an insurance requirement, applicable fees, etc.).”
HNN Investigates
Nhieu continued: “As part of the due process, licensees are provided the right to appeal disciplinary actions taken by the licensing program or board. The contested case hearing would be brought before the Office of Administrative Hearing for adjudication.”
According to the DCCA website, the therapist has two complaints.
One is dated a few weeks after Lelah bonded out of jail. But because no legal action was imposed, the complaint is sealed.
The other complaint is still under investigation therefore details are confidential.
Hurt believes the community deserves answers.
“How many children did this man see? And God forbid I even have to say this, how many kids have passed away potentially who have been harmed by this man?” he said.
“These are all serious questions that are valid questions that the state has the obligation and the duty to explore and answer.”
HNN emailed Lelah for comment on this story, and asked if he had seen any patients since his arrest last June. We did not get a response.
According to the terms of Lelah’s plea deal, he could serve anywhere between 18 months and 10 years behind bars. His sentencing is set for May 24.
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