Winnsboro man accused of pretending to be CPS worker to gain access to children, females

Winnsboro man accused of pretending to be CPS worker to gain access to children, females Image

• Gerald Don Miller HCSO jail photo

From Law Enforcement Reports Sat, 06/29/2024 - 07:03 Body

A 56-year-old Frnklin County is accused of pretending to be a Child Protective Services representative in order to gain access to children on at least two different occasions, once in Lamar County and another in Sulphur Springs, according to a press release from Lamar County Sheriff ’s Office and arrest reports.

According to arrest reports by SSPD, Miller is believed to have made the contact in an attempt to 'conduct lewd acts on female victims.'

“It appears from the investigation, that Miller chose his victims, that were in the custody of grandparents and he did not have possession of or show accredited credentials,” according to a news release from Lamar County Sheriff Scott Cass.

“Law Enforcement and Child Protective Services want to remind communities, that if they are ever involved with CPS, the CPS workers will carry accredited credentials and their workers will show proof of their accredited credentials before talking to you,” the release stated.

The arrest came about following a multi-agency investigation by Lamar County Sheriff ’s Office and Sulphur Springs Police Department, in conjunction with Child Protective Services, and Franklin and Hopkins County Sheriffs’ Offices.

Lamar County Sheriff ’s Office was first contacted June 18 regarding a white male impersonating a public servant , by representing himself as a CPS worker.

“The suspect told a guardian he needed to speak with her child and gained access to the child. The guardians of the victim and the victim gave a good description of the suspect and vehicle information. During the investigation, Lamar County Sheriff ’s Office Detectives learned that the same incident occurred in Sulphur Springs, Texas, in November of 2023 and their suspect and vehicle description matched the suspect, here in Lamar County,” according to a news release from Lamar County Sheriff Scott Cass.

On June 25, LCSO detectives gained information that allowed them to positively identify the suspect, 56-year-old Gerald Don Miller. An arrest warrant was obtained for Miller’s arrest and a search warrant for his home and vehicle were executed. Miller was arrested at his Winnsboro residence.

“During the execution of the search warrant, detectives recovered property from Miller’s vehicle corroborating what the victim in Lamar County described. There was also evidence found in Miller’s vehicle linking him to the offense in Sulphur Springs,” the release stated.

LCSO commended “the efforts and collaboration of the detectives working this case,' CPS, SSPD, Franklin and Hopkins County Sheriffs' Office.”

Miller was held in Hopkins County jail Friday morning. Miller was transported to Hopkins County jail Thursday, where he was held on two third-degree felony impersonating a public servant charge. The Sulphur Springs charge is alleged to have occurred in Sulphur Springs on Nov. 9, 2023.

The investigation into the alleged offenses is ongoing, LCSO and Sulphur Springs Police report.

“Law Enforcement Agencies are asking if anyone has had any or recent contact with this subject, where he was alleging to be with CPS and did not show accredited credentials to please come forward by contacting your local law enforcement agency. Miller is 5'8', approximately 240 pounds, brown and white hair, with a white mustache and would have possibly been carrying a red case with a Texas Department of Criminal Justice logo on it,” the Lamar County news release stated.