Arrest warrant issued for former treasurer

Police said the woman destroyed more than 200 files.

STAFF REPORT

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Four felony charges have been filed against a former Union Township secretary-treasurer who was accused of intentionally destroying files in the township’s computers.

Sally Byler, 62, of Avalon Drive, was charged, and a warrant was issued for her arrest Wednesday by state police in New Castle. She had not been arrested as of Thursday afternoon, police said.

The charges are unlawful use of a computer, computer trespass, tampering with public records or information, and disruption of services, according to information on file at District Justice Jennifer Nicholson’s office.

Police said Byler destroyed 207 files and programs, many of them critical to the day-to-day operation of the township.

She also locked the computers with a password that only she knew and refused to tell the township what it was, police said. The township had a professional service unlock the computers, and the damage was discovered, police said.

Police are alleging that Byler destroyed the files when she was allowed to retrieve her personal belongings after a Jan. 7 meeting in which she was not rehired for her position.

That meeting was the township supervisors’ reorganizational meeting, according to Vindicator files.

Supervisor Clair Damon had nominated Byler to continue in the post, but his motion died for lack of a second. Supervisor Pat Angiolelli nominated newly elected Supervisor Robert Eckert to fill the job, and the motion passed with Damon voting against it. There was no discussion on why Byler wasn’t reappointed.

Reached Wednesday evening, Angiolelli, supervisors chairman, said he cannot comment on the case by order of the state police. He referred questions to the township’s solicitor, Jason Medure.

Medure said Thursday that after the January meeting, a supervisor accompanied Byler to her office but was apparently not in the room when she allegedly deleted the files.

“I think that will be hashed out in the investigation,” he said.

Damon said Wednesday he was not told about the investigation, and he only knows that two of the township’s five computers were removed a few days after the January meeting. One of the computers was Byler’s, and the other was one he used that sat between his and Angiolelli’s desks, he said. He said he was told they were taken “to recoup documents” but he was never made aware that any files critical to township operations were destroyed.

Damon said he was able to get into his computer before it was removed.

Byler was secretary-treasurer in 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2007. She was also a township supervisor from 1989 to 1996.

Byler could not be reached. A relative who answered the phone at her home Wednesday said she is away for the next 15 days.

State police investigating officer Shawn Schexnaildre said Thursday he does not know where Byler is or when she will be arrested.