Fernando Salazar Interim Consent Order - License Surrender

JENNIFER DAVENPORT ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW JERSEY Division of Law 124 Halsey Street P.O. Box 45029 Newark, New Jersey 07101 Attorney for New Jersey Board of Physical Therapy Examiners By: John Passante Deputy Attorney General Attorney ID: 003522006 Email: John.Passante@law.njoag.gov Tel. (609) 696-5361 STATE OF NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY EXAMINERS

IN THE MATTER OF THE SUSPENSION OF Administrative Action THE LICENSE OF

TO PRACTICE PHYSICAL THERAPY IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY

This matter was opened to the New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners ("Board") upon receipt of a Santa Monica Police Report indicating that Salazar Fernando ("Respondent"), licensed to practice physical therapy in New Jersey, was arrested on April 17, 2025 and charged in the State of California with Fondling: Touching Intimate Part of Person against Their Will for Sexual Arousal, in violation of PC 243.4(e) (1). By Order dated January 1 27, 2026, the Superior Court of the State of California ordered Respondent to cease and

The police report lists two offenses: under "OFFENSES," the report lists "Fondling: Touching 1Intimate Part of Person against Their Will for Sexual Arousal," PC 243.4(e)(1), and, under

"CHARGES," the report lists, "Fondling: Sexual Battery while Victim Restrained, Felony," PC 243.4(a). Fernando Agustin Salazar INTERIM CONSENT ORDER License No.: 40QA02232100

desist the practice of physical therapy pending the resolution of the criminal charges. See The

People of the State of California v. Fernando Agustin Salazar, No. 25ARCF00806-01 (Cal.

Super. Ct., January 27, 2026). The conduct that Respondent is charged with having engaged in, if proven, may demonstrate, at a minimum, that Respondent engaged in acts constituting a crime or offense that has a direct or substantial relationship to the activity regulated by the Board or is of a nature such that Respondent's continued licensure would be inconsistent with the public's 2 health, safety, or welfare and would provide grounds for the suspension or revocation of Respondent's license to practice physical therapy in the State of New Jersey pursuant to

N.J.S.A. 45:1-21(f). However, the Board is satisfied that, although the conduct that

Respondent has been charged with may constitute grounds for suspension or revocation of licensure, Respondent's agreement to voluntarily surrender his license, as memorialized in this interim consent order, obviates the need for the Board to make such a determination at this time, and the Board does not herein make that finding. It appearing that Respondent agrees to voluntarily enter into an interim agreement temporarily suspending his license without making admissions and without prejudice to his ability to defend any action that may be brought before the Board based upon the above allegations, and the Board finding the within disposition adequately protective of the public health, safety, and welfare; and other good cause having been shown;

17th AprilIT IS, THEREFORE, ON THIS _____DAY OF ________, 2026,

Although Respondent's license has been suspended by operation of law due to failure to 2renew his license at the end of the last biennial licensing period, see N.J.S.A. 45:1-7.1 and

N.J.A.C. 13:39A-5A.1, the Board now seeks to suspend the license as an interim disciplinary

action. The practical effect on Respondent, however, is the same. Respondent has been unable to practice physical therapy in the State of New Jersey since March 2, 2026 and will continue to be unable to do so until he is fully compliant with the terms of this Order.

ORDERED AND AGREED THAT:

1. The license of Respondent, Fernando Salazar, to practice physical therapy in
   the State of New Jersey is hereby voluntarily surrendered. Said surrender shall be deemed a temporary suspension, effective immediately, pending further Order of the Board.

2. Respondent shall immediately cease and desist from holding himself out as a
   physical therapist in the State of New Jersey and shall refrain from the practice of physical therapy in the State of New Jersey pending further Order of the Board. Any practice will be considered unlicensed practice in the State of New Jersey.

3. Respondent shall surrender his wall certificate, wallet certificate, and most
   recent renewal card of his license, contemporaneously with the signing of this Order, by mailing them to the New Jersey Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, P.O. Box 45014, Newark, NJ 07101.

4. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed an admission of liability on the part
   of Respondent, nor prejudice his ability to defend any charges that may hereafter be brought against him in any action before the Board.

5. Entry of this Interim Consent Order does not preclude further investigation
   and/or initiation of disciplinary action based upon any violations by Respondent of any statutes or regulations governing practice in the State of New Jersey or any other violations of law, by the Board, the Attorney General, or any other regulatory or law enforcement agency, including, but not limited to, investigation and/or action based upon the conduct that Respondent has been charged with in the pending criminal matter and any pending matters under investigation.

6. Respondent may apply for reinstatement at such time as all criminal charges
   against him have been fully resolved. In the event Respondent seeks reinstatement, he shall complete and file an application for reinstatement with the Board and shall:

7. At the discretion of the Board, appear before the Board or a committee thereof
   to discuss readiness to reenter practice. At that time, Respondent shall be prepared to demonstrate evidence of rehabilitation to the Board's satisfaction.

8. Affirmatively establish fitness, competence, and capacity to actively practice, to
   the satisfaction of the Board.

9. Provide the Board with a full account of conduct during the intervening period
   of time from the filed date of this Order to application for reinstatement of license.

10. Provide the Board with documentation regarding the resolution of any criminal
    action resulting from the above-referenced actions and documentary proof of satisfaction of all terms and conditions of any criminal sentence, including, but not limited to, any period of probation.

11. Provide the Board with documentation demonstrating that he holds an active
    and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in California

12. Provide documentation of successful completion of all application
    requirements, including continuing education, a Criminal History Background Check, and payment of all reinstatement fees.

13. The Board may advise the Attorney General and any victims/complainants of
    the application for reinstatement and consider any information submitted in response to such notification.

14. The Board reserves the right to deny any application for reinstatement.

15. If Respondent's license to practice is reinstated, the Board, in its discretion,
    specifically reserves the right to impose any conditions or restrictions on licensure it deems necessary and appropriate to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.