Former Ohio State Highway Patrol Lieutenant William P. Elschlager, 48, of Marietta, Ohio, has been charged with cyberstalking and deprivation of rights under color of law, according to federal prosecutors. The charges stem from a months-long campaign of harassment and intimidation.
Elschlager, who served as the post commander for the Ohio State Highway Patrol in Marietta, engaged in a sexual affair with the wife of another trooper between April and September 2015. Following their breakup, the victim alleges that Elschlager began stalking her, frequently following her in vehicles, texting her about her whereabouts, and showing up at her residence unannounced.
According to court documents, Elschlager placed a GPS tracking device on the victim’s vehicle and conducted an unlawful traffic stop, turning off his audio recording device. He also reportedly told the victim that he had named her and her son on his life insurance policy after obtaining their personal information from her husband’s personnel file.
The investigation revealed GPS tracking software on Elschlager’s cell phone, video recordings and photographs taken through a window of the victim’s residence, as well as law enforcement information and photographs of at least 10 females on his computer. Elschlager faces up to five years in prison for cyberstalking and one year for deprivation of rights under color of law.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman commended the investigation by the FBI and Washington County Sheriff’s Office, noting that this case is a testament to the commitment to justice and safety.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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