El Paso man arrested for allegedly practicing dentistry without a license
The El Paso Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit has arrested
and charged a local man for allegedly practicing dentistry without a valid license.
Police say the investigation began after a complaint was filed with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) on June 3, 2013 by a patient who was unhappy about dental services performed by Montoya.
The TSBDE discovered 63-year-old Richard Montoya had been working without a valid license, which had been revoked by the TSBDE on April 15, 2011.
According to TSBDE documents obtained by ABC-7, Montoya had previously been disciplined by the board on April 25, 1997, Jan. 17, 2003, and April 28, 2006. Read the full disciplinary actions against Montoya on those different occasions by clicking on the disciplinary document under related content to the left of this article.
The April 2011 disciplinary document, states Montoya violated the terms of the April 28, 2006 board order by:
A. Failing to complete forty hours of continuing education byApril 28, 2007, as required by Stipulation Three;
B. Failing to complete 35 hours of continuing education between April 28, 2007, and April 28, 2008, as required by Stipulation Three;
C. Failing to timely pay the imposed fine by October 28, 2006, as required by Stipulation Two’ and
D. Failing to take the jurisprudence assessment aas required by Stipulation Four. Between Sept. 1, 2010, and Oct. 1, 2010 respondent practiced dentistry with an expired license.
Police detectives located Montoya at his office on Thursday morning and arrested him.
Montoya was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on 6
counts of Dentistry Act Violation and his bond totaled: $30,000.
This remains an open investigation and it is possible that additional charges may be filed against Montoya.
Citizens are asked to contact the TSBDE if they have any questions regarding this case. It is also important to note that patients are not considered victims in this type of crime as the TSBDE is the victim and will be following up on the charges related to this case.
