Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced Thursday that criminal charges have been filed against the Whitehall Township tax collector for official oppression and harassment.

Tina Koren, 65, of Whitehall, was charged with the misdemeanor counts in a complaint that was filed Monday.

Holihan said his office began an investigation of Koren when a complaint was filed in September 2025 at Whitehall Township Police by Koren’s neighbors, Mary Ellen and Steven Griffin.

The Griffins, who reside in the 3300 block of South Ruch Street in the township, alleged harassment again Koren, who is their neighbor.

Holihan said to avoid any potential conflict of interest, township Police Chief Michael Marks turned the investigation over to his office.

He said the Griffins own and operate a nonprofit charitable organization known as The Caring Place, located at 931 Hamilton St. in Allentown, which is dedicated to supporting the homeless and those in crisis by providing food, shelter, clothing and essential services. The organization does not conduct any business activity at the Griffin home or property in Whitehall, the DA said.

He said the investigation revealed in early June 2025, the Griffins decided to build a small greenhouse to the rear of their property where they planned to grow fresh vegetables to be donated to individuals and families in need through The Caring Place and to educate children about how food is grown.

Holihan said on June 12, 2025, Koren filed a complaint with the township zoning office, stating the greenhouse was being constructed without a property building permit. He said after the zoning office conducted an investigation pursuant to Koren’s complaint, Steven Griffin completed the necessary building permit paperwork, paid the $35 fee and received a valid building permit for the greenhouse.

Holihan said in the course of the probe, investigators found Koren, acting in her capacity as the tax collector, sent several misleading emails to the company contracted by the township to handle business taxes, stating the Griffins were running a portion of the business from their home in violation of township tax law.

The district attorney said that misinformation led to several tax bills and notices being received by the Griffins that had been authored by Koren. In one email to the business tax collection agency, Holihan said, Koren included a photo of a van bearing The Caring Place logo in front of the Griffin home with a woman at the rear of the vehicle. The email states, “This is one of the many pictures I have received from Whitehall residents who are legitimately paying for a business license.” He said the investigation revealed the photo of the van was taken from inside the Koren home.

Holihan said it was determined Koran intentionally misled and/or lied to the business tax collection agency about the business activity of the Griffins in order to subject the Griffins to unfair assessment, mistreatment, infringement of personal and property rights that did alarm and seriously annoy the Griffins, and served no legitimate purpose and harassed the Griffins.