Copies of driver's licenses were available in Schuylkill County tax claim files

Nov. 29—Driver's licenses that were viewable to the public in some county tax claim files on Wednesday were no longer present as of Monday.

Douglas Litwhiler, of Ringtown, said at the Schuylkill County commissioners meeting Wednesday that his license was available when searching tax claim records. The tax claim office is responsible for current and delinquent tax collection.

Litwhiler said since Deb Dasch took over as the interim tax claim director, "there is now a new policy that you get your license photocopied and then they scan it into the computer system."

Dasch was hired for the role in October 2021. She was previously a clerical supervisor in the tax claim office.

"I want an investigation," Litwhiler said.

He said since his information has been accessible, his identity has been stolen. On Wednesday, Litwhiler held up copies of driver's licenses of other people he accessed off a county computer in the tax assessment office while doing a tax claim search.

"I'm not too happy about it," he said of his license, which is still current.

Litwhiler said Monday that he has bought property at tax sales for years and they never took a photo of his identification. He said he researched previous years and his license is not viewable.

He went to the Schuylkill County Tax Claim office recently and was told they were working to rectify the issue.

His license was not viewable with documents when searched Monday.

"No comment," Dasch said Monday when asked why driver's licenses were viewable electronically.

The commissioners didn't comment when presented with the news Wednesday. Litwhiler gave the copies of the driver's licenses to solicitor Paul Datte.

Litwhiler, who is a police officer, said if he shared information of a driver's license he would "probably be arrested and fired."

Jeff Dunkel, of Palo Alto, said driver's license information was viewable online for a woman whose name he did not give publicly.

Clerk of Courts Maria Casey asked: "Will there be a suspension without pay?"

District Attorney Michael O'Pake, who attended the commissioners meeting, said he was surprised about driver's licenses being in the tax claim files.

"The sharing of personal information on a computer that is accessible to the public is not prudent," he said Wednesday.

On Monday, O'Pake said he received a complaint from Litwhiler that will be investigated.

Commissioners Chairman Barron L. "Boots" Hetherington said Monday: "It's a procedural issue that appears be going on for quite some time," adding that some of the licenses were expired.

Commissioner Gary J. Hess declined comment on the matter Monday.

Angela Toomey, Schuylkill County tax claim director, and Denise McGinley Gerchak, assistant tax claim director, who are both suspended, commented on the driver's license debacle Monday.

"During our time as director and assistant director of the tax claim bureau, protecting the public's sensitive personally identifiable information was extremely important to us," Toomey said.

"In our absence, we learned that a practice began of scanning photo IDs into public files and made the county aware of the practice immediately," she said Wednesday.

Toomey and Gerchak have not worked since Sept. 17, 2021, after an investigation alleged they used a database to perform unauthorized searches on more than 9,000 people, something the women deny. Through their attorney, Catherine Smith, of Derek Smith Law Group PLLC, Philadelphia, the women had said they used third-party database software "in a professional and responsible manner in order to discharge the duties of their offices."

An attempt to fire the women in March failed when Hetherington voted yes and Hess voted no. Commissioners George F. Halcovage had abstained, citing a conflict of interest.

Contact the writer: amarchiano@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023