Woman accused of stealing from clinic

MONTROSE — A former Montrose County Sheriff’s Office employee who won a settlement on her sexual harassment complaint is now bound for court.

Chrystal McClain, formerly Chrystal Black, is accused of creating and then using a shadow bank account to spend Olathe Medical Clinic money on herself.

She was arrested Sept. 16 and has since been charged with two counts of theft of $20,000 or more, according to the Montrose Combined Courts.

McClain is free on a $15,000 bond.

According to a public affidavit, an Olathe clinic staffer was making a routine bank deposit late last year, when, to her surprise, a bank employee inquired about the clinic’s plans for “the second account.” The bank told her another employee was the signator on the account. That woman told authorities McClain controlled the account and brought her checks to sign.

Administrative staff said a second account was never authorized. They closed it and contacted authorities.

The employee on the fake account’s signature card said McClain, who worked for the clinic from 2001 to early 2007, wanted the account opened for grant money, so it would not be diverted.

“According to (employee), Black (McClain) maintained control over the account and would bring (employee) checks to sign,” the affidavit alleged. The employee later told investigators McClain told her she had to be on the account because everyone else at the clinic had bad credit.

Research led the administrator to believe money in the account came from clinic clients paying bills, training reimbursement, a state grant and a Montrose County Commission payment to offset medical cost of indigent farm workers.

Financial records referred to in the affidavit reportedly showed payments made to McClain’s son-in-law for painting work at the clinic, an unauthorized cell phone, a furniture store, a moving company, Internet merchants and hotel rooms.

The furniture company told investigators that a “Chrystal Godfrey” purchased furniture there, with a debit card issued in the name of the Olathe Medical Clinic. The furniture was delivered to the motel McClain was then managing and according to the affidavit, “Chrystal Godfrey” is one of her aliases.

The bank employee whose name was on the account believed the checks she was signing were for legitimate purposes, including a TV and furniture for the clinic and training for staff members.

She said some of the checks, including two for around $7,000 each, weren’t signed by her.

“(Employee) said she never received any of the money taken from the account and did not know it was being used for illegal purposes,” the affidavit said.

Some of the money was used to pay legitimate clinic expenses.

McClain spoke to police Sept. 11 and denied theft. Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Brooks Bennett said later in his affidavit McClain admitted to setting up the second account and spending most of the money on personal expenses.

“She ... told me she could not stop herself and that she was ‘addicted to spending money’ even though she knew she would eventually be caught,” Bennett alleged.

McClain is due back in court Oct. 7.

According to past Daily Press reports, McClain won a settlement against the county after she complained the undersheriff serving in 1999 had sexually harassed her. She was fired for alleged misconduct in 2000, just two days after she made her complaint.

Former Sheriff Warren Waterman said McClain was fired for altering data to cover up a traffic offense, but in 2001, a jury found Undersheriff Rick Rowan sexually harassed her and that she was fired in retaliation for her complaint.

McClain was denied damages, but an appeals court ordered reconsideration. In 2004, McClain settled with the county for $120,000 and $220,000 in attorneys fees.