(COLORADO) — According to court documents, a former Colorado woman charged last fall for using fake credentials to obtain a state license as a psychologist has pleaded guilty to two felonies and one misdemeanor.
Shannon McShane, from Monument, represented herself as holding a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. She then obtained a state license with the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) as a psychologist to serve as a child and family investigator and parental evaluator in child custody cases.
McShane worked with the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC), and the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), specifically at the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo (CMHIP). Throughout her time, she conducted investigations and provided judges and magistrates with reports of findings and recommendations on parenting time and decision-making for children.
According to court documents, McShane was named in several complaints to DORA from parents in Colorado domestic relations cases. One parent in Arapahoe County became concern and began investigating McShane’s background.
“(redacted) stated that “Ms. McShane’s PHD is not verifiable” and explained that “she says she got her PhD in Psychology in 2017, however this not possible as she was also in Texas during this time. She studied for her master’s after 2017 at Texas State University,” court documents state.
The parent filed a DORA complaint anonymously in fear of retaliation. In 2023, McShane contacted the parent’s employee and claimed he was stalking her because “she did not rule for him 100% in a custody evaluation.” She also stated that she would contact the judge in his divorce case to let him know about the man’s behavior.
The parent also provided an email from the University of Hertfordshire that stated they did not have a record of any student with McShane’s name.
Throughout her time, McShane filed various mandatory disclosures in El Paso County, Logan County, Boulder, Denver, and more. McShane included on her employment applications and testified under oath that she had earned a PhD from the University of Hertfordshire, but an investigation also found no records showing McShane was a student or earned a degree from the university.
McShane was charged with fifteen counts, including attempting to influence a public servant, fraud, and retaliation against a victim or witness. On Friday, April 11, McShane pleaded guilty to one count of retaliation against a victim or witness, attempt to influence a public servant, both class four felonies, and one count of perjury.
“We take fraud—and efforts to undermine the integrity of our judicial process—seriously,” stated Weiser. “The defendant’s actions created real harm, and this plea agreement holds her accountable.”
Sentencing is set for June 23.
