Board clears several applicants with felony records to pursue barber training or licensure

The State Barbers' Health & Sanitation Board voted unanimously May 3 to permit several applicants with prior felony convictions to move forward with barber training or licensure processes.

President Toby Chavez opened the hearing and Antinette Maestas swore in participants. Johnny Sotelo, who said he was convicted in 2007 of battery to commit sexual assault and paroled in 2010, asked permission to attend barber school; "Mr. Azzam made a motion to allow Mr. Sotelo to attend barber school," which Mr. Chavez seconded and the Board approved. The Board also approved a petition by Joshua Faye, charged in May 2025 with burglary of a business and serving 20 days in jail, after hearing that Faye is in compliance with probation and is participating in the Hope for Prisoners program with roughly 25 hours per week of community service.

The Board handled an endorsement application for Gerardo Del Campo — licensed in Colorado Springs but with a past robbery charge — by allowing him to apply for licensure by endorsement. Each of those motions passed with "all were in favor," per the meeting minutes. The Board did not indicate additional conditions beyond standard application reviews.

The decisions were presented as case-by-case determinations rather than a policy change. Board members asked for supporting documentation when necessary and relied on probationary status, program participation, and existing out-of-state licensure as factors in granting procedural permission to pursue training or endorsement.