A man who worked for a now-closed Santa Maria addiction services nonprofit is being accused of abusing his position to get favors from a client whose wife worked at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), according to a lawsuit filed on May 9 in the Santa Barbara County Superior Court Cook Division.
In the lawsuit, Allan Campos accused Gustavo Chavez, a former counselor with the Center for Change in Santa Maria, of demanding Campos’ wife use her position at the DMV to illegally waive registration fees for certain vehicles.
At the time, the lawsuit states, Campos was required to attend the Center for Change as a condition of his probation for possession of a controlled substance.
From December 2014 to January 2016, Campos alleges that Chavez told him that if he didn’t comply, Chavez would falsely tell the court that Campos failed his drug tests, which would send him to jail.
That’s exactly what happened, according to the lawsuit. On two separate occasions, Campos said Chavez failed his drug tests, which resulted in five days in jail the first time, then four days on the second occasion.
Campos requested to take a blood sample to prove he was clean, the lawsuit states, but Chavez said that wouldn’t happen.
Campos also alleges that Chavez used threats of violence and intimidation against him, telling him that Chavez was a former wrestler and that his son wrestles and plays football.
Attempts by the Sun to reach Chavez or former employees with the Center for Change were unsuccessful.
The Center for Change was a subsidiary of San Diego-based nonprofit Mental Health Systems (MHS). According its website, MHS was founded in 1978 to “provide innovative and cost-effective” mental health and drug addiction services.
Before closing its doors, the Center for Change was located at 201 S. Miller St., suite 101. Inquiries placed by the Sun with MHS were not returned before press time.
Attorney Stephen Dunkle, who represents Campos, confirmed the complaint but wouldn’t speak on the record for this story.
Because of the allegations, Campos accused Chavez of negligence and acting in reckless disregard toward him. Campos is seeking more than $25,000 in damages from Chavez.
