The Whitehall Township tax collector is accused of using her role as tax collector to harass her neighbors, according to authorities.

Lehigh County Detectives on Monday filed misdemeanor charges of official oppression and harassment against Tina Koren, alleging she sent “misleading” emails to the company contracted to handle business taxes in order to harass her neighbors Mary Ellen and Steven Griffin, who own the Allentown-based charity The Caring Place.

Koren, 65, will be arraigned on the charges at a preliminary hearing scheduled for next month. Her attorney Michael Donahue said she denies she committed any crime, and the allegations “mischaracterize” her good-faith performance of her duties to collect a $35 business license fee on behalf of the township.

“The Commonwealth must prove each element of the offenses charged beyond a reasonable doubt, including the required intent, and the evidence will not support those claims,” he said. “Ms. Koren did not act to harass anyone, and she did not misuse her office to deprive anyone of any right.”

Koren filed a complaint in June stating that the Griffins were building a greenhouse on their property in the 3300 block of South Ruch Street without a building permit, District Attorney Gavin Holihan said Wednesday in a news release. The greenhouse was going to be used to grow vegetables, which could be donated to people through The Caring Place and to educate children about how food is grown, the DA said.

Koren shares a property line with the Griffins’, the DA said.

The township zoning office inspected the property, and the Griffins completed the necessary paperwork and got a valid permit for the greenhouse.

Koren, acting as the township’s elected tax collector, sent several misleading emails to the company contracted by the township to handle business taxes, the DA said, claiming the Griffins were running a portion of the business from their home, which was in violation of the township tax law, the release states.

This led to several tax bills and notices being sent to the Griffins that Koren had written, the DA said. One of the emails to the business tax collection agency showed a photo of a van with The Caring Place logo on it in front of the Griffin home, authorities said. The email said, “This is one of the many pictures I have received from Whitehall residents who are legitimately paying for a business license,” according to the DA.

Detectives said the photo was taken from inside Koren’s home. Whitehall police handed the investigation to county detectives to avoid any possible conflict of interest.

Reached Wednesday, Mary Ellen Griffin said the issue is solely with the greenhouse, and that she never had any problems with Koren or her family before. The greenhouse, made by her son, is about 9 feet by 9 feet, and is used to provide food to donate through The Caring Place.

She does not run the business out of her home, she said, adding that is something Koren and her husband know about. Mary Ellen Griffin said she and her husband did all the necessary work and paperwork for the greenhouse. Koren, she said, never spoke to her about the greenhouse. If she had come up and said it was an eyesore, Griffin said she would have asked how she could help the situation.

“I welcome that,” she said.

The DA said the investigation indicated Koren, acting in her official capacity, misled or lied to the business tax collection agency in order to harass the Griffins, “which did alarm and seriously annoy the Griffins and served no legitimate purpose.”

“Because this is pending in court, Ms. Koren will not try the case in the media or comment on specific evidence,” Donahue, her attorney said. “She will, however, fully cooperate with the legal process and will vigorously defend herself. We ask the public to reserve judgment until all facts are presented in the proper forum.”

Koren, who has clashed with other township officials, was re-elected to a four-year term as tax collector in 2025.

Whitehall Township Mayor  Joseph J. Marx declined to comment on Koren’s arrest Wednesday,

“Detectives from the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office handled this investigation and the charges were brought by the DA. Whitehall Township was not involved and has no comment on the matter,” Marx said.

He referred all additional questions to the township solicitor.

Reporter Laurie Mason Schroeder contributed to this story.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.