Nantahala News

The former director for Cherokee County's Department of Social Services Cindy Palmer has been indicted by a Cherokee County grand jury on three counts of felony and three misdemeanors, the Carolina Public Press reported on May 18.

Palmer has charges related to an alleged Department of Social Service practice, which would coerce families to sign documents, otherwise, families would be separated from their children without judicial oversight, according to Carolina Public Press. 

According to Carolina Public Press, if parents or caregivers didn't sign the documents, social workers alleged they would take their children to foster homes that were far away. 

Palmer was indicted with obstruction of justice for allegedly allowing social workers to exercise such practices, the Carolina Public Press reported.  

“The use of these agreements effectively avoided judicial oversight into the activities of Cherokee County [Department of Social Services] and subverted the statutory process for determining abuse and neglect of children and determining custody and parental rights,” the indictment states, according to Carolina Public Press. “This offense was done in secrecy and with malice; with deceit and intent to defraud; was infamous; and was done in violation of the common law, and against the peace and dignity of the state.”

County Attorney Darryl Brown told the Carolina Public Press that Palmer is under investigation and that she faces losing her job with the Department of Social Services. 

“Cherokee County is conducting an investigation to determine Mrs. Palmer’s continued employment with Cherokee County DSS as business officer,” Brown said in a statement, according to Carolina Public Press.