ALJDEC decisions subject to certification as final
25A-2024120697-NUR · State Board of Nursing · 2025-08-08
IN THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
IN THE MATTER OF REGISTERED NURSE LICENSE NO. RN199783 ISSUED TO:
LEONARD CORNELIUS HRITSCO, JR.,
AKA: LEONARD C. HRITSCO, LENNY, LEONARD CORNELIUS HRITSCO
RESPONDENT.
No. 25A-[number redacted]-NUR
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE DECISION
HEARING: July 11, 2025 with the record held open until July 25, 2025 for purposes of receiving the court reporter’s transcript.
APPEARANCES: Assistant Attorneys General Austin Byrom, and Scott Donald appeared on behalf of the Arizona State Board of Nursing.
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE: Adam D. Stone
EXHIBITS ADMITTED INTO EVIDENCE: Exhibits 1-13 were admitted into evidence.
_____________________________________________________________________
FINDINGS OF FACT
The Arizona State Board of Nursing (“Board”) has the authority to regulate and control the practice of nursing in the State of Arizona, pursuant to A.R.S.§§ 32-1606, 32-1663, 32-1664, 41-1092.11(B). The Board also has the authority to impose disciplinary sanctions against the holders of nursing licenses for violations of the Nurse Practice Act, A.R.S. §§ 32-1601 to -1667 and Arizona Administrative Code (“A.A.C.”) Rules 4-19-101 to -904.
Leonard Cornelius Hritsco Jr. (“Respondent”) holds Board issued registered nurse license number RN199783 in the State of Arizona.
On or around September 16, 2024, while working as a registered nurse (RN) and House Supervisor at Aurora Behavioral Health in Tempe, AZ, (Aurora), Respondent, who was the RN taking care of Patient A.S., a 33-year-old female hospitalized with mental health diagnoses of depression and anxiety, gave his phone number to Patient A.S.
Respondent gave Patient A.S. a blanket with his phone inside, instructing her to go back to her room and take naked pictures of herself, followed by a second request for additional photographs later that day. Patient A.S. complied and took naked pictures of herself on Respondent’s phone for him.
On February 21, 2025, in an interview with Board staff, Patient A.S. confirmed the incident on September 16, 2024, and stated that on September 18, 2024, after her discharge from Aurora, she moved into Respondent’s apartment in Chandler, Arizona. Patient A.S. stated that while living with Respondent, he asked her for sexual favors, though uncomfortable with the request, she complied.
Patient A.S. stated that on October 8, 2024, following a fight with Respondent in his apartment, and while not being in the right mindset, she shot herself in the leg with Respondent’s gun to commit suicide.
Patient A.S. stated that following her hospitalization for the gunshot wound and while she was in an acute rehabilitation facility for physical therapy, Respondent visited her and requested sexual favors, in return for him to bring her things, such as snacks.
On December 28, 2024, while again a patient at Aurora, Patient A.S. became physically and verbally aggressive, reporting she wanted to harm herself, and then proceeded to inform the nurse on duty about her relationship with Respondent and her self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Respondent, as Patient A.S.’ RN care provider, was in a position of trust and power. The standard of practice for an RN is to maintain professional boundaries, establishing therapeutic relationships built on trust, respect, empathy, and professional intimacy, while avoiding any personal or romantic relationships with patients.
Respondent violated the standard of practice when he began a romantic and sexual relationship with Patient A.S., taking advantage of a vulnerable adult.
Respondent violated Aurora’s Policy No. HR 20129, effective 6/22/16 -“Boundaries”, when he formed a romantic relationship, which included sexual activity, with Patient A.S., which, by policy, was not allowed under any circumstance regardless of the time lapse since the patient was in an Aurora treatment setting.
On February 7, 2025, the Board sent an Investigative Questionnaire (IQ) with request for a written explanation of the matter to Respondent through the Nurse Portal and United States Postal Service.
On February 7, 2025, Respondent viewed the email on the Nurse Portal, but did not respond to the Board.
On March 18, 2025, Board staff did the following and these events occurred:
A. A second IQ was sent to Respondent through the Nurse Portal which, as of April 9, 2025, he has not viewed.
B. An email to Respondent’s personal email address of record was returned to the Board “address unknown”.
C. A telephone call was placed to Respondent’s phone number of record, which was no longer in service.
D. Respondent never provided the Board with his written explanation of the incident.
On May 22, 2025, based upon the facts and circumstances set forth above, the Board found that the public health safety and welfare imperatively required Emergency action. Consequently, the Board ordered, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1092.11(B), and effective immediately, that Leonard Cornelius Hritsco Jr., the holder of registered nurse license no. RN199783, is SUMMARILY SUSPENDED pending proceedings for revocation and other action by the Board.
The Notice of Hearing was sent via certified mail to Respondent at his address of record on June 3, 2025. Further, on or about July 7, 2025, the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) sent an Order converting the hearing to a “Google Meet” to Respondent’s address of record.
Respondent did not file a response or exhibits with OAH, nor did he request that the hearing be continued prior to the hearing convening. Although the start of the hearing was delayed 15 minutes to allow Respondent additional time, she did not appear, personally or through an attorney, and did not contact the OAH to request that the start of the hearing be further delayed prior to the hearing convening. Consequently, Respondent did not present any evidence to defend his Registered Nurse License.
Janet Olson, Advance Practice Nurse Consultant, testified as to the above facts and the actions the Board has taken thus far.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
The Notice of Hearing that the Board mailed to Respondent at her address of record was reasonable, and Respondent is deemed to have received notice of the hearing. See A.R.S. § 41-1092.04; A.R.S. § 41-1061(A).
This matter lies within the Board’s jurisdiction under A.R.S. § 32-1606(B)(10).
The Board bears the burden of proof and must establish cause to penalize Respondent’s registered nurse’s license by a preponderance of the evidence. See A.R.S. § 41-1092.07(G)(2); A.A.C. R2-19-119(A) and (B)(1); see also Vazanno v. Superior Court, 74 Ariz. 369, 372, 249 P.2d 837 (1952).
“A preponderance of the evidence is such proof as convinces the trier of fact that the contention is more probably true than not.” Morris K. Udall, Arizona Law of Evidence § 5 (1960). A preponderance of the evidence is “evidence which is of greater weight or more convincing than evidence which is offered in opposition to it; that is, evidence which as a whole shows that the fact sought to be proved is more probable than not.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1120 (8th ed. 2004).
The Board established by a preponderance of the evidence that Respondent engaged in unprofessional conduct as alleged in the Complaint and Notice of Hearing. As such, the Board established cause to impose a disciplinary sanction against Respondent’s license under A.R.S. § 32-1663(D), and A.R.S. § 32-1664(N).
RECOMMENDED ORDER
Based on the foregoing, the Administrative Law Judge recommends that the Board affirm its order summarily suspending Respondent Leonard Cornelius Hritsco, Jr.’s Registered Nurse License number 199783.
It is further recommended that the Board revoke Respondent Leonard Cornelius Hritsco, Jr.’s Registered Nurse License number 199783.
In the event of certification of the Administrative Law Judge Decision by the Director of the Office of Administrative Hearings, the effective date of the Order will be forty (40) days from the date of that certification.
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-137160-45720000Done this day, August 8, 2025.
/s/ Adam D. Stone
Administrative Law Judge
Transmitted by either mail, e-mail, or facsimile to:
Joey Ridenour, RN, MN, Executive Director
State Board of Nursing
Leonard Cornelius Hritsco Jr.
[email redacted]
Austin Byrum
Scott Donald
Office of the Attorney General
[email redacted]
By: OAH Staff