Former Colorado social worker accused of 'baselessly, falsely, and unconstitutionally' separating children from parents who denied her sexual advances

Robin Niceta, a former Colorado social worker, has been accused of abusing her position by making false accusations to separate children from their parents. Aurora councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky filed the lawsuit against the former caseworker on Wednesday.

The lawsuit stated, "During the course and scope of her former employment with Defendant ACDHS, Defendant Niceta baselessly, falsely, and unconstitutionally separated or attempted to separate children from their parents or caretakers."

Niceta was accused of making sexual advances toward mothers and female guardians she was actively investigating. When the women denied her, Niceta would abuse her authority by making baseless claims hoping to permanently separate parents from their children.

In May, the woman resigned from her position with the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services. Her former romantic partner, Aurora police Chief Vanessa Wilson, was fired in April after an investigation following the death of Elijah McClain.

In addition to alleged inappropriate sexual conduct, the lawsuit also accused Niceta of falsifying abuse or neglect complaints, introducing false testimony, and introducing false and fabricated evidence.

Jurinsky filed the lawsuit against Niceta after the social worker incorrectly accused the councilwoman of child sexual abuse, KUSA reported. Niceta called in the false tip to authorities one day after Jurinsky made negative remarks about Niceta's former partner, Wilson, during a radio interview.

The DHS investigated Niceta's claims and found that Jurinksy was innocent. In addition to the lawsuit, Niceta is facing criminal charges for the false testimony.

Jurinsky claimed that more than 40 people had been affected by Niceta's baseless accusations. As a result, the lawsuit requested class-action status, according to Fox News Digital.

The case stated, "dozens, if not hundreds (or more), of Arapahoe County families have been torn apart, sometimes permanently, on the basis of constitutionally improper investigations, false sworn testimony by Arapahoe County employees, fabricated evidence introduced by Arapahoe County employees in both investigatory and judicial proceedings, and a downright inexplicable, unfounded, and unjust desire to separate or attempt to separate children from their parents or other caretakers."

Elliot Singer, the attorney who prepared the lawsuit, told the Gazette, "So far, several parents have come forward to let us know that they also had their children taken away from them as a result of Robin Niceta's actions related to their cases whether by what they believe to be false testimony during court or what they believe to be false reports."

Niceta faces another lawsuit filed by a Colorado family that accused the former social worker of removing a child from their custody "based only on deliberate cultural assumptions and bias."

The Gazette reported that Niceta is also believed to be under investigation by the FBI. When asked to confirm, Denver FBI told the news outlet, "Except in rare circumstances, the FBI cannot confirm or deny the existence of an investigation."