Escorted Out: How Schuylkill County’s RTK Officer Weaponized Sheriffs to Silence Me

Hi. I’m Frank Curry, founder of FOIA Buddy, journalist, advocate for government transparency accountability, government watchdog, and a former professional wrestler. And no, that last part isn’t a gimmick… I’ve spent my life standing up to bullies and tough guys. Today, those bullies wear badges, sit behind desks, and misuse taxpayer-funded offices to silence the very people they’re supposed to serve.

This is the story of how I was escorted out of the Schuylkill County Courthouse by the County’s Right-to-Know Officer, Lois Lebo, turned sheriff’s deputies into her personal goon squad, violated my First Amendment rights, and tried to gaslight the public into thinking I was the problem for doing nothing more than asking lawful questions.

And yes, I filmed everything.

I Was Labeled "Anonymous" and Not a U.S. Citizen, Just to Dodge the Law

Let me be crystal clear: I submitted valid Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) requests as a local resident and U.S. citizen. Lois Lebo and Schuylkill County’s administration didn’t want to answer. So instead, they labeled me “anonymous” and claimed I wasn’t even a citizen of this country.

Why? Because if I’m not a citizen, they think they don’t have to respond. They’re hoping the public won’t notice they’re shredding the law to avoid accountability.

Here’s where things got political: Instead of processing my Right-to-Know requests, the county dug into my voter record by even consulting Schuylkill County Election Director Albert L. Gricoski to question my legitimacy. Because they couldn’t find me under my nickname, they went so far as to question whether I was a U.S. citizen. But why dig through voter rolls instead of checking property tax records, especially when I pay taxes right here in the county?

Even More Politics: when someone submitted a request about a Republican, the County responded in under 24 hours. But my request? About a Democrat? Suddenly, I’m invisible. “Anonymous.” Not even a citizen.

This isn’t just bias. It’s intentional political gaslighting. And it’s a pattern.

Enter Lois Lebo... The Tyrant Behind the Curtain

Rather than address their legal duties, Lois Lebo, Schuylkill County’s Right-to-Know Officer, decided to flex power she doesn’t legally have by having me escorted out of the courthouse.

When I went to the courthouse to follow up; peacefully, lawfully, with a camera recording, Lois didn’t meet with me. She didn’t answer questions. She didn’t get her supervisor. She called in the sheriffs to take me out.

Let me say that again: instead of doing her job, Lois Lebo weaponized the sheriff’s department like a bunch of mall security goons, turning law enforcement into her personal enforcers.

They didn’t arrest me because I broke no laws.
They didn’t cite me because I did nothing wrong.
They just removed me… Escorted me out just because Lois Lebo told them to.

And then? They restricted access to the entire hallway so no one could go near the HR department.

That’s not “procedure.” That’s tyranny.

HR Director Anthony Kern: “This Isn’t Walmart.”

Before I was removed, I met with Mr. Anthony Kern, the county’s Director of Human Resources. I calmly explained my complaint. He took notes for about 20 minutes, and when I asked how to proceed, he looked me straight in the eye and said:

“What would you like me to do about it?”

So I explained, “If you worked at Walmart and someone made a complaint, they’d take care of it.”

And what did this $100,000-a-year public servant say?

“This isn’t Walmart.”

No kidding, Mr. Kern. This is a county government office, not a retail store and you’re paid with our tax dollars, not quarterly earnings.

Here’s the kicker: Schuylkill County outsources most of its HR to an outside firm for nearly $200,000 a year, yet somehow they don’t even have a basic complaint form on hand. It might as well be a piece of paper with crayon. So, I had to make my own. And after submitting it? Radio silence.

Smear Campaign by County Administrator Gary Bender

As expected, instead of responding to my complaint or investigating Lois Lebo’s misconduct, the County began spinning the narrative.

County Administrator Gary Bender implied that I “didn’t behave” during the courthouse visit during a commissioners meeting.

Let’s set the record straight:

I introduced myself.
I recorded the interaction.
I asked questions peacefully.
I left when forced out by deputies, on video.

If I had misbehaved, I’d be in jail. But I’m not, because I broke no laws. What I did do was document their lawbreaking.

Hiring in the Shadows

Meanwhile, Schuylkill County filled a public position recently without posting it online, holding interviews, or notifying anyone. No job board listing. No outreach. Just an internal hire done quietly behind closed doors.

When I submitted a Right-to-Know request asking how that process was conducted, guess what happened?

Lois Lebo stonewalled it. Again.

This is how Schuylkill County avoids transparency: They bury the records, deny requests on bogus technicalities, and call the cops if you show up with questions.

Why I Filmed It All

People ask why I record everything. This is why.

Because without the video, Lois Lebo and her goon squad of deputies could’ve said anything to have me escorted out:
“He was aggressive.”
“He disrupted the building.”
“He posed a security threat.”

Instead, I have proof.

Even on camera, they violated my rights and escorted me out. That’s how shameless it’s gotten.

How Power Protects Itself

When local governments start using public resources to silence public questions, what you’re seeing isn’t just dysfunction, it’s deliberate control. And in Schuylkill County, that control looks like a paper trail buried under red tape, Right-to-Know Law requests denied on bogus grounds, and citizens escorted out of government buildings for doing nothing but asking lawful questions.

Officials like Lois Lebo, the County’s Right-to-Know Officer, aren’t just gatekeeping documents, they’re deciding who gets to speak. If you’re on their internal “approved” list, you might get answers. If you challenge them? You’re suddenly labeled anonymous, or in my case, not even a U.S. citizen; just so they can justify shutting the door. And if you push back in person? You’re escorted out.

Let’s be very clear:
This is not how democracy works.

Public records laws like the Right-to-Know Law in Pennsylvania and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) nationally exist so citizens can hold their government accountable. They’re supposed to shine a light on how tax dollars are spent and decisions are made, not be twisted into excuses for retaliation.

When we created FOIA Buddy, it was to help everyday people file legally sound, automated public records requests. You shouldn’t need a law degree to get answers from the people paid with your taxes. But what I’ve learned is that even when your paperwork is perfect, certain officials will still do anything to avoid transparency.

And when I say “anything,” I mean it.

Instead of responding to my requests, they sent in armed sheriff’s deputies to have me escorted out of a public hallway. Then they doubled down and reclassified that very hallway as “Office Staff Only” after I was removed.

If that’s not obstruction, what is?

This move wasn’t about safety. It was about shielding Lois Lebo and shutting down public oversight. It was about using intimidation and false narratives to make sure no one else dared to show up with a camera or a question.

Had I not filmed everything, they might have claimed I was disruptive. They could’ve twisted it by saying I posed a threat, that I refused to leave, that I was belligerent.

But I wasn’t. The footage shows exactly what happened.

I was calm. I was lawful. I was escorted out simply because they didn’t want to answer for their actions.

That’s the reality: in Schuylkill County, if you challenge the gatekeepers, you don’t get a meeting, you get removed. You don’t get documents, you get denied. You don’t get due process, you get escorted out.

This isn’t just about a records request anymore. It’s about power protecting itself at all costs, even if it means erasing your rights in the process.

And that’s exactly why I’m speaking up.

This Is Bigger Than Me

I wasn’t just escorted out of a building. I was stripped of my citizenship, denied access to public information, and smeared in the process all because I asked questions they didn’t want to answer.

Lois Lebo turned the Right-to-Know Law, a tool meant for accountability, into a shield for corruption. She turned sheriff’s deputies into her enforcers. And she did it with the full knowledge of other officials who said nothing because they benefit from the silence.

But I’m not anonymous.
I’m not a threat.
And I’m not backing down.

I’m a father, a taxpayer, a citizen, and a journalist. And this is what transparency looks like.

Watch the Full RAW Video

Want to see what really happened?
Watch the footage of me being escorted out of the Schuylkill County Courthouse for simply asking questions. You’ll see firsthand how the Right-to-Know Law was ignored, public access was shut down, and sheriffs were used as a goon squad to silence a journalist.

Watch on Rumble
This is what retaliation looks like when you demand transparency.

FOIA Reform Is Here... But Who’s It Really Helping?

At Sunshine Fest 2025, I didn’t just speak… I challenged the very agencies that call citizens “vexatious” for demanding answers. My panel wasn’t a celebration of transparency; it was a wake-up call.

From secret “safe senders” lists to retaliatory removals from courthouses, I pulled back the curtain on how some governments manipulate FOIA and Right-to-Know laws to dodge accountability. The reform conversation is heating up but if we’re not careful, it might just empower the wrong side.

Read what they didn’t want me to say on stage and why it matters now more than ever:
FOIA Reform Transparency – Sunshine Fest 2025

Disclaimer

This article reflects the author’s personal experience and informed opinion following an interaction with Schuylkill County government officials, including the Right-to-Know Officer, courthouse personnel, and sheriff’s deputies. All observations are based on publicly available information, applicable public records laws, and firsthand documentation of events. This post does not allege criminal conduct but critiques the use of public resources, enforcement practices, and potential retaliation within the Right-to-Know Law process. Statements regarding county personnel or elected officials are intended as fair comment on matters of public concern and are protected under the First Amendment. In addition, the use of satire, humor, and editorial graphics is a protected form of expression under U.S. law and is intended to highlight public accountability through commentary and parody. This content is offered for informational and advocacy purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

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