Founder of rehab where Presley Gerber died previously denied psychology license over drug crimes
Dr. Reza Nabavi, who runs the Santa Monica halfway house where Presley Gerber died, had his psychology license rejected in 2004 because of prior drug-related offenses and a misdemeanor involving a minor.
In February 2002, Reza Nabavi was stopped by Oakland police while sleeping in a vehicle with a 15-year-old girl; officers discovered methamphetamine, marijuana, a hunting knife, a handgun and ammunition. He entered no-contest pleas to two separate misdemeanor drug possession charges, each resulting in 36 months of probation. When Nabavi applied for psychologist registration in September 2004, the California Board of Psychology rejected him because of the convictions and related unprofessional conduct.
After complying with extensive probation requirements, including drug testing and treatment, he was finally licensed as a psychologist in December 2006. Nabavi later served as director of family services at the celebrity-frequented Promises Malibu rehab and opened the Resolutions Living halfway house in Santa Monica, which is not a state-licensed treatment facility. Presley Gerber, 27, died there under a suspected overdose, and the Los Angeles medical examiner has not yet released a cause of death.
Why it matters
The story links a high-profile overdose death to the founder’s past drug offenses and questionable licensing history.
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