LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. — A former Larimer County Department of Human Services worker who was arrested on 99 charges claimed she met with 10 families - but when contacted some of those families were not even aware that case about them existed.
That's according to an arrest affidavit from the Larimer County Sheriff's Office for Sandra Spraker who was arrested late last month.
Spraker, 45, was hired by the Larimer County Department of Human Services (DHS) in April of 2022. She started working as a caseworker in October after completing her training.
According to the affidavit, about a year after she was hired, around March or April of 2023, her immediate supervisor noticed low performance issues with Spraker's work. The supervisor said she began working more closely with Spraker regarding case expectations and documentation.
As a result, she was placed on a "supervisory performance plan" and as part of that, families of concern under Spraker's caseload were contacted. In September 2023, Spraker's supervisor learned that some of them had never been in contact with any caseworker named "Sandra."
The supervisor reviewed Spraker's case notes and found that she had made entries about the families even though the families reported they had no contact of any kind with her, the affidavit says.
According to the document, the supervisor met in a video call with Spraker, who admitted she made the entries but had not seen the families. She did not provide any explanation about why the families were not contacted. As a result, Spraker was placed on leave.
The affidavit notes that Spraker lied about visits with 10 families and when contacted, some of them were unaware a case was open about them. Another family reported that they had moved to another state and said as far as they were concerned "there was no expected contact from CO DHS."
Spraker's supervisor said she was "particularly concerned" that Spraker had not followed up with this family because there was a "known serious history." Another worker who was reassigned the case told investigators she was "shocked" Spraker had no contact with them because she was aware of prior serious injuries.
When that worker was finally able to contact the family in September she said they were "confused" about why they were being contacted since they had moved out of state in June. All family members confirmed to her that they had never met anyone from Larimer County DHS by the name of Sandra.
After determining that Spraker had lied about meeting with families, the affidavit says the department then reviewed fuel and mileage reimbursement claims submitted by her. They found nice occasions where they believed the claims were fraudulent, according to the affidavit. They totaled a little over $300.
Investigators contacted Spraker and requested a voluntary interview but she wanted to speak with an attorney first. She later declined any interview through an attorney.
She's free on a personal recognizance bond and is due back in court on Feb. 20.
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