Trooper accused of allowing girlfriend to access sensitive state police information

(WFSB) – A state trooper was arrested and accused of computer crimes.

On Jan. 9, authorities learned that 29-year-old trooper Mitchell Paz allegedly allowed his girlfriend to access a state police reporting system to get information about her ex.

State police said the system contained sensitive information.

“Departmental computers and systems contain a lot of sensitive information on ongoing investigations [and] past investigations that may be dangerous to have it released to anyone,” said retired state police Lt. Paul Vance, Channel 3′s law enforcement expert.

The sharing of the information hampered ongoing state police investigations, authorities said.

State police said the investigation stemmed from a love triangle.

Paz was accused of letting his girlfriend, Amanda Marino, access the state police reporting system on two occasions.

The father of Marino’s child is Shawn Roka. State police said Roka is accused of selling drugs.

While Paz did not investigate Roka’s case, state police believe his girlfriend, Marino, used Paz’s laptop to look at it.

State police said Marino took notes and passed them to Roka, which had confidential informants’ and undercover officers’ names on it.

Troopers said they have computer evidence and very revealing text messages between the parties involved.

Read Paz’s arrest warrant below:

“Paz was immediately placed on administrative leave with no police powers after the allegations were learned; a criminal investigation by state police detectives commenced,” state police said in a news release.

They said Paz was suspended with pay.

Paz was arrested on Wednesday and charged with two counts of third-degree computer crimes and two counts of conspiracy to commit third-degree computer crimes.

State police said he posted a $15,000 bond and is due in court on March 29.

“Paz has been a sworn member of the Connecticut State Police since 2015,” state police said. “He was assigned to Troop A Southbury and Troop G Bridgeport. He most recently served at Troop I while on administrative leave.”

Roka, 32, of Watertown, was charged with third-degree conspiracy to commit computer crimes.

Marino, 32, of Terryville, was charged with two counts of third-degree computer crimes and one count of conspiracy to commit third-degree computer crimes. State police said a mugshot of Marino was not available.

Channel 3 went to Marino’s home to get her side of the story.

She wasn’t home but her father answered the door.

“No idea or anything about that case, but my wife just said Mitch was on the news, but I don’t even know about this case,” the father said. “I think the court’s coming up. We’ll see what happens, that’s fine. She’s not home.”