Broward counselor used a fake court order to move a boy from an Illinois rehab, state says
A mental health counselor running a Southwest Ranches rehabilitation facility has been put on a two-year probation for a 2018 incident in which he is accused of using a fake court order to move a boy from an Illinois treatment center to his own treatment center.
Suncoast Recovery Ranch CEO Dr. James P. Hughes received a one-year suspension that’s stayed as long as he complies with the terms of the probation. Hughes, a licensed mental health counselor, can’t practice without the supervision of a psychotherapist. He was also fined $1,000 and ordered to reimburse the Florida Department of Health $6,500 in investigative and case costs.
When reached by the Miami Herald on Monday, Hughes said he doesn’t take patients anymore, and does only training of others. The settlement agreement describing his probation says he “may not provide any supervision to any registered clinical social worker interns, registered marriage and family therapist interns or registered mental health counselor interns.”
The online profile of Hughes’ Florida Department of Health license doesn’t have an address of record and says “Not practicing.” But the license is still active.
A fake Marchman Act as part of an act?
State records say Suncoast, first registered with the state in 2017, registered Hughes as CEO three months ago, with a March 7 filing. That’s his first appearance on any state paperwork for Suncoast. Hughes said the 2018 episode happened when he was at his previous, now-closed facility.
The administrative complaint filed by the Florida Department of Health says on the day a minor was committed to an Illinois treatment facility, Hughes showed up with the boy’s father. Hughes flashed a Florida Marchman Act Court Order at the boy’s treating physician and the facility staff.
That order, according to the complaint, “authorizes court-ordered involuntary admission, assessment and stabilization of certain individuals based on substance use impairment.”
Hughes walked out with the minor, walked onto a plane with him, flew him to South Florida and put the boy in Hughes’ treatment facility.
The problem, according to the administrative complaint, was that Hughes “knew or should have known, that the document was fraudulent and/or not issued by any court in the state of Florida.”
