Parental evaluator who handled child custody cases charged with forgery and attempt to influence state officials

Parental evaluator who handled child custody cases charged with forgery and attempt to influence state officials

Oct. 1, 2024 (DENVER) - The statewide grand jury has returned a 15-count indictment against Shannon McShane, 57, for allegedly using false credentials to obtain a state license as a psychologist, which she used to gain employment with state agencies and serve as a child and family investigator and parental evaluator in child custody cases throughout Colorado, Attorney General Phil Weiser announced today.

"Defrauding the state of Colorado and engaging in unlicensed practice as a psychologist in a manner that impacts our justice system is a grave breach of public trust," said Weiser. "In this case, we are seeking to hold Shannon McShane accountable for her alleged conduct and to send a message that this behavior is intolerable."

According to the indictment filed in Denver District Court on August 29, over the course of six years, McShane represented herself to state agencies and judicial officers as having a PhD in Psychology from the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. This representation allowed her to obtain licensure with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies as a licensed psychologist, certified addiction counselor, and licensed addiction counselor.

Through her licensure, McShane was able to obtain several positions with the State of Colorado. For example, the Office of the State Court Administrator relied on McShane's affidavits and other documentation and determined that she was qualified to be on the statewide rosters for child and family investigators and parental evaluators. This allowed McShane to conduct investigations and provide judges and magistrates with reports of findings and recommendations on parenting time and decision-making for children. McShane testified under oath that she held a PhD.

In addition, McShane sought and obtained employment with the Colorado Department of Corrections and the Colorado Department of Human Services, specifically to work at the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo. She included on her employment applications that she had earned a PhD.

Officials from the University of Hertfordshire were unable to find any records showing McShane was a student at or earned a degree from there, according to the indictment.

McShane is charged with eight counts of attempt to influence a public servant (F4), five counts of forgery (F5), one count of perjury (F4), and one count of retaliation against a victim or witness (F3). She is in custody at the Denver Downtown Detention Center. The case number is 2024CR15110.

A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation that an individual committed a crime under Colorado laws. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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