GOLDEN, Colo. – A former employee of the Jefferson County Department of Human Services who worked on child abuse and neglect cases has been indicted on charges that she falsified information in a dozen different case reports.
A Jefferson County grand jury indicted Richelle Schultz, 53, on 12 counts of attempting to influence a public servant and 10 counts of forgery.
A review of Schultz’s cases began after she quit working at DHS in July 2016. As part of her training, Schultz was instructed to interview victims, family members and witnesses in person and/or over the phone and then enter details from those interviews into the state’s Trails computer system.
The review of Schultz’s work found that in 12 cases, Schultz reported she had met in person or over the phone with victims, family members and witnesses when she in fact had not, according to the indictment.
In those 12 cases, supervisors concluded there were no outstanding safety issues and all the cases were closed.
Schultz turned herself in to deputies at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 15 and posted $25,000 bond the following day. She’s expected back in court on Oct. 2.
