A former Schuylkill County police officer will stand trial on more than 20 felony charges after authorities say he used a restricted law enforcement database to stalk his ex-wife and her associates.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the development following a preliminary hearing in Schuylkill County. A district judge ruled that enough evidence exists to hold 40-year-old Douglas Litwhiler for court on 21 felony counts of unlawful use of a computer, along with misdemeanor charges of stalking and official oppression.
Litwhiler, a Columbia County resident and former officer with the East Union Police Department, is currently free on $25,000 bail.
The state’s case centers on Litwhiler’s alleged use of the Pennsylvania Justice Network, commonly known as JNET. The system is a highly secure, restricted database utilized by law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth for official duties.
According to the Office of Attorney General, which filed the initial charges in April, Litwhiler continued to access the network even after he was terminated from the East Union Police Department. Investigators allege he performed a total of 21 unauthorized searches. The targets of those searches included his ex-wife, a man she was dating, and a contractor hired to build his ex-wife’s new home.
In addition to the unauthorized computer searches, state prosecutors accused Litwhiler of physically stalking his ex-wife’s boyfriend last year. The state presents evidence that after Litwhiler looked up the man’s personal data on JNET, he began driving past the man’s home at all hours of the day and night. The prosecution also alleges Litwhiler followed the man in public spaces on multiple occasions.
“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,” Attorney General Sunday said regarding the case.
The case is being handled by Senior Deputy Attorney General Katherine McDermott. Under state law, all criminal charges and related discussions remain allegations at this stage of the legal process. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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