In a press release, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that former East Union Officer, 40-year-old Douglas Litwhiler, is facing over 20 felonies, stemming from allegations he accessed secure law enforcement resources to stalk his ex-wife and a man she was dating.
In the release, it is stated that the Office of the Attorney General presented testimony at a preliminary hearing this week in Schuylkill County, alleging Litwhiler repeatedly used the secure information database JNET, which is used by law enforcement, following his termination from the East Union police department.
It is further alleged that Litwhiler used his JNET access to run searches on his ex-wife, her boyfriend, and a contractor who is reportedly building his ex-wife’s new home. It is reported that 21 searches were performed in total.
Litwhiler is also charged with stalking the man his ex-wife had been dating last year. It reports, “After searching for the man’s information on JNET, Litwhiler then began driving past the man’s house at all hours, and followed him out in public on multiple occasions.”
The release states a district judge ordered Litwhiler to be held on 21 felony counts of unlawful use of a computer. Litwhiler is also facing misdemeanor stalking and official oppression, as well as summary offenses.
Sunday is quoted as saying, “The privacy and protection of sensitive law enforcement information is taken very seriously, and this defendant abused his access to track people in his personal life.”
Litwhiler is currently free on $25,000 bail. Meanwhile, Senior Deputy Attorney General Katherine McDermott will prosecute the case.