Gov. Murphy: Sex Offender Getting NJ License Back 'Reprehensible'

PARAMUS, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy called for changes after a former Bergen County chiropractor and registered sex offender gained approval to have his license reinstated after a years-long fight.

The New Jersey Board of Chiropractic Examiners made the decision to reinstate Bryan K. Bajakian's license for a five-year probationary period, according to documents from the board.

Murphy called the decision "reprensible" and "unacceptable."

"Folks who voted to reinstate this guy should hear this loud and clear: We will be looking very carefully and very soon (at) the makeup of that board," he said.

This move was also in direct opposition to the wishes of Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, who filed a November motion to block Bajakian's reinstatement.

In April 2005 Bajakian was brought up on charges that included attempting to lure a child for purposes of committing a sex act, knowing of or possessing child pornography and illegal weapons possession. He eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of luring or enticing a child, and illegal weapons possession in 2008.

His license was formally revoked in October 2010 after the same board found that Bajakian engaged in sexual misconduct with an underage patient that he spoke with over the Internet. The board also found that Bajakian used the Internet to engage in "conduct of a sexual nature" with six minors.

These past actions were the starting point for Grewal's beef with the decision, but it doesn't end there.

Not only does the Attorney General believe that Bajakian proves to be a "danger to public's health, safety and welfare," but he believes there were flaws in the reinstatement process.

The board's decision leans heavily on a psychosexual evaluation conducted in 2019, which found that Bajakian was of "low" risk to harm others.

"Whatever attitudes [Bajakian] may have had over a decade ago when he committed his inappropriate and illegal Internet behavior, he shows no evidence of attitudes that support or condone sex offending," wrote evaluator Philip H. Witt.

Grewal, in his 2020 motion, said reinstatement on these grounds is "flawed."

Though the evaluation found Bajakian to be a "low" risk to become a repeat offender at this point, it doesn't present evidence that he's deserving of a license to practice, Grewal argued.

Further, Bajakian didn't appear before the board after this evaluation.

"[Bajakian] presented no evidence of rehabilitation, and provided no testimony to support the conclusion that he now possesses good moral character other than self-serving statements offered during his psychosexual evaluation," he wrote.

Grewal isn't the only state official aggrieved by the Board's decision, as state Senators Joe Vitale and Robert Singer issued a joint condemnation Thursday.

"This is a decision that defies common sense and ignores the safety of the public the board is responsible for protecting. Anyone who thinks it’s a good idea to reinstate the license of a convicted sex offender who preyed on children can’t be trusted to exercise their oversight responsibilities, or to even to heed their own mission statement directing the board to ‘protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of New Jersey," they said.

"Bryan Bajakian is a predator who should not be placed in a position of trust with patients in healthcare settings that make them vulnerable, especially children. Denying him a license should be automatic, as it is in other states," they added.

But according to Bajakian's attorney Douglas Anton, several area practices and patients aren't concerned about his clients' past.

Anton told NJ.com that his client has plans to begin practicing in the near future, and has three current employment opportunities.

Though he'll likely be able to practice again soon, there are limitations Bajakian will be forced to deal with.

In addition to the probationary period, Bajakian is barred from performing chiropractic services on patients under 18. Any further criminal wrongdoings can also result in the end of the probation period, and the immediate suspension of his license.

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