Ex-cop who used police gear to stalk woman pleads guilty; sentenced to jail, probation

A former police officer who worked for three Alle-Kiski Valley police departments has pleaded guilty to charges filed in connection with his arrest for using police-tracking software to monitor a woman who ended a relationship with him.

Michael McSherry, 29, of Harrison pleaded guilty Wednesday, Dec. 15 to two counts, official oppression and stalking, which are misdemeanors.

McSherry was sentenced by Westmoreland County Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio to 11½ to 23 months in jail. He was given credit for time he served since his arrest Sept. 28. He also was ordered to serve five years on probation.

The most serious charges — a pair of felony counts of unlawful use of a computer — were dismissed as part of the plea agreement, according to court records.

Also dismissed in exchange for a guilty plea were charges of child pornography, harassment, a second official oppression count and a count of making terroristic threats.

McSherry last worked as a police officer for the Frazer Township Police Department. He was there for about 1½ months before leaving. His last shift in Frazer was Sept. 3.

Vandergrift hired McSherry as a part-time officer in August, but he completed only one training shift before being suspended by the mayor Sept. 20.

McSherry also previously worked part time and full time in New Kensington.

He was arrested after police were called to an Allegheny Township home Sept. 18 for a domestic disturbance.

In the criminal complaint filed against him, police said they were aware McSherry was a military veteran, worked as a police officer and had “some mental health issues in the past.”

The woman told police McSherry had been irate, pushed her and one of the children and threatened to kill himself before going into a bathroom with a loaded gun and locking the door, the complaint said.

Police eventually were able to take McSherry into custody, and he was admitted to a hospital for a mental health evaluation, the complaint said.

The woman told investigators McSherry used Frazer’s license-plate readers to track her vehicle and a second vehicle driven by her mother.

Audits done on the license plate readers showed McSherry used his phone and computer while off duty to log into the system to check the woman’s vehicles at least 365 times between Aug. 22 and Sept. 17, the complaint said.

The woman told police she discovered a GPS tracking device under the dashboard and steering wheel area of her car.

McSherry also was accused of harassing the woman by repeatedly calling her. Investigators said one night in July, when the woman was on a family vacation, McSherry called her 78 times.

The woman told police that on Sept. 14, McSherry used his laptop to video-call her 73 times in 65 minutes after he smashed his cellphone in a rage, the complaint said.

The child pornography charge was filed after a search of McSherry’s computer and phone turned up a naked photo of the woman at the age of 14 when she was a victim of sexting, police said.

McSherry was accused of getting the photo of the young teen from a so-called “revenge porn” site.