A former Colorado social worker has pleaded guilty to charges relating to accusations that she faked a cancer diagnosis to avoid prosecution.
Robin Niceta, of Arapahoe County, was facing charges for falsely accusing a city council member of abuse. In the run-up to the trial, her lawyers attempted to delay proceedings based on a purported diagnosis of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, the Sentinel Colorado reported.
Reports shown in court reportedly had stated that Niceta was “disoriented, unable to communicate and suffering from cognitive impairment,” suggesting she was unable to stand trial.
However, an investigation concluded that the medical facility and doctor listed on the documents were fake.
Radiologist reading MRI scans, magnetic resonance imaging, at St. Louis Hospital, a public assistance hospital in Paris, France. A former Arapahoe County social worker admitted she faked having brain cancer to avoid prosecution.
Uncredited/Getty Images
Niceta was charged with forgery, criminal impersonation, attempting to influence a public servant, tampering with physical evidence, as well as two misdemeanors of second-degree forgery, according to the Sentinel. She pleaded guilty on October 8.
“This defendant went to great lengths to fake a terminal illness and fabricate records to avoid facing justice,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Gallo said in a news release reported by the Sentinel. “The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office spent countless hours gathering evidence to unravel Niceta’s scam.”
Niceta was also previously found guilty of the original charges, attempting to influence a public servant and making a false report of child abuse. Prosecutors alleged she called a hotline to accuse Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky of molesting her son as retaliation against her for criticizing then-police chief Vanessa Wilson, who Niceta was in a relationship with, on a radio show.
“It’s absurd that a former social worker, entrusted to protect children, maliciously attempted to tear a family apart with false accusations,” District Attorney John Kellner said in a news release, per the Sentinel. “Her actions were spiteful, vindictive and wasted numerous county resources.”
Following the verdict, Jurisky reportedly said, “I’ve known she was guilty since Day One, and she was faking the brain tumor, and everything that’s gone along with it. The woman is an absolute liar. And I’ve known from Day One that she was guilty. So this is amazing. I feel amazing.”
Jurinsky also won a civil defamation case against Niceta, and was awarded $3 million in relation to the hotline call, per the Sentinel.
Niceta reportedly received a four-year sentence for the false report, and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 17, 2025, in relation to the fake cancer diagnosis.
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