CLEARFIELD – A former employee of Clearfield County’s Children Youth and Family Services was in court Tuesday to answer for her attempts to extort money from families under her supervision.
Police say an investigation into Miller’s activities began in Sept. after she was terminated from her caseworker position due to misconduct.
The allegations were that Crystal Rebecca Miller, 40, of DuBois, was “extorting money and other financial benefits from her clients when she was working in her official capacity as a caseworker.”
She signed a plea agreement for a probation only sentence but President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman was reluctant to accept this plea because none of the victims were in court to voice their opinion. In their absence he read from a victim impact statement.
This victim stated that Miller had caused them to lose trust in all law enforcement and CYS. This was a “mental injury” as Miller threatened to remove their foster child from their home. They felt she should have some jail time.
District Attorney Ryan Sayers said this was a “sad case” because of the trust people put in public officials. He noted that the crimes happened over a period of years.
Clearfield County Commissioner John Sobel spoke saying he feels probation is too light of a sentence under these circumstances.
The former administrator of CYS, Trudy Lumadue commented that this case impacted the entire agency and the foster care program.
She said she trusted Crystal and met with her every day.
“I was shocked she took advantage of them,” playing on their weaknesses, she said. Lumadue also asked for Miller to serve some jail time.
Sayers agreed she needed to go to jail, but explained he was limited by the sentencing guidelines.
Robbie Taylor, attorney for Miller, responded that considering her prior record and the guidelines, she should only have to serve probation.
“Her punishment extends to other things. She lost her job and reputation. This will limit her future employment,’ he said.
Ammerman was ready to reject the plea, but after a sidebar between the judge and both attorneys, Taylor spoke with Miller and she agreed to serve 90 days in jail. Taylor asked for house arrest, which Ammerman denied.
Miller herself addressed the court saying that she looked at the victims as “friends’ and had helped them out so she felt she could ask them for help.
Ammerman sentenced her to serve the 90 days to one year in jail along with four years probation. She must also pay $600 in restitution and complete 200 hours of community service. She is prohibited from being employed in any position involving children.
Because she was not planning on going to jail immediately, she was given a delayed commitment. She will report to the jail on Wednesday, April 16.
According to the affidavit, several families Miller dealt with were questioned regarding her behavior.
One family reported that Miller asked for $80 for gas money, and another time for money for Miller to buy her own children school supplies. She then requested the receipt because she was going through a divorce and needed to provide proof to the court that she spent money on her kids.
This victim stated that Miller asked her to co-sign for a car loan.
Another victim told investigators that she was trying to get legal custody of her granddaughter who ended up in foster care instead. She was dealing with Miller and actually complained to the county multiple times about Miller not helping her. Eventually she called a supervisor in Harrisburg who assisted her in finally getting custody of her granddaughter.
She explained Miller never promised her anything or threatened her, but she felt as if she did not do what Miller wanted she would not get her granddaughter.
This includes Miller asking for a free trip for Miller and her children to Disney World which this victim did not provide.
Miller also asked her to co-sign for a car loan. This victim provided Miller with other ideas to finance a vehicle but Miller still asked for her signature on the car loan.
“She believed Miller has been using her position to benefit herself and scare people, and she makes people feel afraid,” police say in the affidavit.
This victim stated that if she had given Miller what she was asking for, she felt she would have gotten her granddaughter sooner. After she reported Miller to the supervisor, Miller told her not to ever call her supervisor again.
This victim said although there were no threats with this statement, she was afraid she would not get custody of her granddaughter if she complained about Miller again.
A third victim said Miller complained before Christmas 2022, that she was going through a divorce and was having problems buying presents for her children. This person gave Miller $500 to buy gifts. In addition, Miller asked this victim to co-sign for a $300,000 house which the victim did not sign.
The fourth family said Miller asked a family member to meet her at a local dealership to sign for a car loan. He reluctantly agreed, but the loan was denied. Miller also got $300 in cash from this family for gas, food and her water bill. They told police they felt they had to do this.
Miller told them, “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have foster kids.”
