Douglas Litwhiler, 41, of Catawissa, has been charged with multiple offenses, including 21 counts of unlawful use of a computer, along with charges of stalking, official oppression, and harassment.
According to investigators, the case was referred to the Attorney General’s Office by the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office on December 22, 2025, due to a potential conflict of interest. The Attorney General’s Office assumed jurisdiction on January 12, 2026.
The investigation began after a complaint was filed with the Ashland Police Department in November 2025. A victim reported that Litwhiler had been harassing and stalking him, including following him to work, his child’s school, and various public places, as well as repeatedly driving past his home in a blue Dodge pickup truck.
As part of the investigation, authorities obtained an audit of JNET, a law enforcement database used to access driver’s license, vehicle, and other sensitive information. According to investigators, the audit revealed that Litwhiler conducted numerous searches between October 1, 2025, and November 4, 2025.
The searches were reportedly conducted from a device associated with East Union Township, where Litwhiler had previously been employed as a police officer until October 6, 2025. Investigators allege that despite no longer being employed, Litwhiler accessed the system using credentials tied to law enforcement.
The audit showed repeated searches for individuals connected to the victims, including multiple JNET photo searches, PennDOT driver and registration lookups, and license plate queries. Authorities allege these searches included checks for specific individuals as well as license plate numbers tied to them. Investigators noted that some searches were conducted late at night and focused on individuals with no legitimate law enforcement purpose.
Additional statements from other individuals indicated similar behavior. One individual told investigators Litwhiler repeatedly drove past her home between January and February 2026 and continued contacting her despite a no-contact order. Another witness reported ongoing harassment through text messages and surveillance, stating Litwhiler would drive by her residence multiple times per day.
Litwhiler, who previously served as a police officer in several Schuylkill County municipalities, also ran as a Republican candidate for Schuylkill County Sheriff in 2021.
He turned himself in overnight and was arraigned before on-call Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker in Shenandoah. Bail was set at 10% of $25,000 cash.
A preliminary hearing is expected to be scheduled at a later date. All charges will be reviewed by the court.