The credibility of Colorado’s legal system is under scrutiny following the indictment of a parental evaluator who allegedly operated with falsified credentials. Shannon McShane, 57, is accused of fabricating her educational background to obtain a state license as a psychologist and other credentials critical for her role in child custody cases. According to Denver7, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office announced a 15-count indictment against McShane, citing that she falsely claimed to have earned a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Hertfordshire, UK.
McShane's misrepresentation of her educational achievements, beginning in 2017, allowed her to become licensed through the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. The licenses included that of a licensed psychologist, and certified, and licensed addiction counselor. As reported by 9News, university officials could not confirm her attendance or degree from the institution she claimed to have graduated from. Colorado Attorney General Weiser emphasized the severity of the breach, stating, “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.”
The roles McShane acquired based on her alleged fraudulent credentials extended beyond parental evaluator, she reportedly worked at the Mental Health Institute of Pueblo, and additionally the Colorado Department of Corrections and Department of Human Services. Her testimony under oath which affirmed her possession of a Ph.D. has also come under fire and is part of the charges against her. “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,” Weiser said, as per KKTV.
The indictment includes eight counts of attempt to influence a public servant, five counts of forgery, one count of perjury, and one count of retaliation against a victim or witness. Currently, McShane is in custody at the Denver Downtown Detention Center according to the charges laid out. The case not only casts a shadow on those who served with McShane but also beckons a closer look into the systems in place for verifying credentials in positions of immense responsibility and trust.
