Boulder County, Colo. - The District Attorney’s Office has filed misdemeanor charges against former Boulder County Department of Human Services (BCDHS) caseworker Stephanie Perez. Perez has been charged with Abuse of Public Records (M2) and two counts of First-Degree Official Misconduct (M1). She is scheduled for a hearing on advisement on November 3, 2026, at 8:00 a.m.

In May 2026, a community member reported concerns to BCDHS management regarding a meeting involving himself, his daughter, and caseworker Perez. The individual had audio‑recorded the interaction. When he later obtained the official BCDHS report of his family’s case, he discovered significant discrepancies between the audio recordings and what Perez had documented. Following this report, BCDHS supervisors reviewed other cases handled by Perez and identified additional instances of inaccurate documentation. These included situations in which Perez recorded in‑person visits with families that, in reality, occurred only by phone or virtually, contrary to required protocol for in-person visits.

When Perez was notified that she was being placed on administrative leave, she forwarded several work emails from her County email account to her personal email. Some of the emails included confidential or protected information that should not leave the secure County network.

Upon completion of its internal investigation, the Boulder County Attorney’s Office notified the District Attorney’s Office as required. Using the findings from BCDHS and the County Attorney’s Office, along with conducting additional investigative work, the District Attorney’s Office determined that filing charges for First-Degree Official Misconduct and Abuse of Public Records was appropriate. A warrant for Perez was issued on October 19, and she subsequently turned herself in without incident.

District Attorney Michael Dougherty stated, “Our community relies on the integrity of public servants, especially those entrusted with the safety and well‑being of families. Accurate documentation and the protection of confidential information are essential to maintaining public trust and it is especially important when working with families in need. When that trust is compromised, our office is committed to taking appropriate action.”

As in every criminal case, these charges are merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.