Ex-Aurora social worker pleads guilty to faking brain cancer to avoid prosecution

Time ran out Tuesday for a former social worker who faked terminal cancer to avoid punishment for an earlier crime.

Robin Niceta pleaded guilty in Arapahoe County to two counts of attempting to influence a public servant, forgery, tampering with physical evidence and criminal impersonation in a web of deceit which prosecutors say started in January 2022.

A probable cause affidavit for Niceta's arrest for that incident alleged that she made an anonymous call to Arapahoe County Social Services, where she worked, to falsely report that Aurora Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky was sexually abusing Jurinsky’s 2-year-old son.

The call was traced to Niceta, who was the girlfriend of former Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson.

It turned out that a day earlier, Jurinsky had criticized Wilson while she was a guest on a podcast. Jurinsky was later cleared of the allegation by DHS case workers.

For that earlier incident, Niceta was charged with attempting to influence a public servant, a class 4 felony, and making a False Child Abuse Report, a class 3 misdemeanor.

While the original case was making its way through the courts, Niceta's attorneys filed paperwork to delay her trial and competency evaluations because she was terminally ill with a rare form of brain cancer. However, investigators found that Niceta's New Mexico doctor and even the clinic website and Facebook page were dreamed up by her, according to prosecutors.

Niceta was arrested in New Mexico in July 2023 and extradited back to Colorado to stand trial.

Jurinsky sued Arapahoe County, the department of human services and Niceta for prompting an investigation into Jurinsky with her untrue tip. Jurinsky alleged the defendants' actions violated her rights to due process and equal protection under the law.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit concluded Jurinsky's allegations fell short, however, because an investigation alone did not violate her rights. Moreover, Jurinsky had not demonstrated how she was treated less favorably than others in similar circumstances.

"Although the amended complaint alleged serious misconduct, it was deficient under the theories of liability Ms. Jurinsky wished to pursue," wrote Judge Scott M. Matheson Jr. in the Oct. 7 order.

"This defendant went to great lengths to fake a terminal illness and fabricate records in order to avoid facing justice," Chief Deputy DA Chris Gallo said. "The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office spent countless hours gathering digital evidence and records which ultimately helped us unravel Niceta's scam."

Niceta was also found guilty earlier this year in her original case centered around the fake child abuse report she filed with Arapahoe County. In that matter, she received a 4-year sentence in the Department of Corrections.

"It's absurd that a former social worker entrusted to protect children maliciously attempted to tear a family apart with false accusations against another public official," District Attorney John Kellner said. "Her actions were spiteful, vindictive, and wasted numerous county resources. I believe her nefarious conduct warrants additional time in the Department of Corrections."

The judge scheduled Niceta's sentencing for Jan. 17, 2025.

Colorado Politics reporter Michael Karlik contributed to this article.