Ex-Schuylkill County Officer Faces 21 Felony Charges for Using Law Enforcement Database to Stalk Ex-Wife
A former East Union officer allegedly ran 21 unauthorized searches on a law enforcement database after being fired — using it to track his ex-wife, her boyfriend, and a home contractor.
POTTSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA — A former Schuylkill County police officer faces 21 felony charges after investigators say he accessed a restricted law enforcement database to track his ex-wife, her boyfriend, and a contractor building her home.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced Wednesday that his office will prosecute Douglas Litwhiler, 40, on 21 felony counts of unlawful use of a computer, as well as misdemeanor stalking and official oppression charges, and summary offenses. A district court judge has already ordered Litwhiler held for court on all counts.
Database Accessed After Termination
Litwhiler served as an officer with the East Union Police Department before his termination. According to the attorney general’s office, all 21 unauthorized searches occurred after he was no longer employed as an officer.
Investigators say Litwhiler used the Pennsylvania Justice Network, known as JNET, to look up information on three individuals connected to his ex-wife. The JNET database is a records management system used by municipal, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across Pennsylvania.
“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,” Sunday said in a statement.
Alleged Stalking Behavior
Beyond the unauthorized database searches, Litwhiler is also accused of physically stalking a man his ex-wife was dating. After pulling up the man’s information through JNET, Litwhiler “began driving past the man’s house at all hours, and followed him out in public on multiple occasions,” according to a press release from the attorney general’s office.
Investigators say Litwhiler searched the database for information on his ex-wife, the man she was dating, and a contractor who was constructing a new home for his ex-wife.
Case Details and Bail
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Katherine McDermott. Litwhiler is currently out on $25,000 bail while the case proceeds.
The charges reflect what authorities described as a deliberate misuse of privileged law enforcement access for personal surveillance. JNET is a tightly controlled system, and unauthorized use by former officers carries serious criminal penalties under Pennsylvania law.
