IT employee arrested for ?rearm

A former UNC employee was arrested Nov. 8 after a firearm was found in his campus office during a multi-department investigation into computer crimes.

Charles Hitlin was arrested by campus police after officers found a 9 mm pistol in his office, said Randy Young, spokesman for the UNC Department of Public Safety.

Hitlin did not answer multiple calls to his home for comment on Thursday evening.

Hitlin served as a manager in the internal information technology department at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. He was employed there for almost five years, according to his Facebook profile.

The gun was discovered when police were executing a search warrant for Hitlin’s office, Young said.

He said the warrant was one of several that are part of the computer crime investigation being carried out by agencies including DPS and the FBI.

Young said it is not clear why the gun was in Hitlin’s office.

“It is possible that would come out in a court case,” he said.

Possession of a firearm on school grounds is a felony charge.

“There’s not a law against possession of a firearm,” Young said.

“There’s a law against possession of a firearm on educational property.”

Young said details about the investigation aren’t available because it is ongoing.

David Pesci, the director of communications for the School of Public Health, said Hitlin is the only person in the school’s information technology department being investigated.

Hitlin’s employment with the department ended on Nov. 12, Pesci said.

Pesci said he could not comment on the circumstances surrounding Hitlin’s departure.

Pesci said Hitlin’s duties are currently being carried out by other staff members.

“The School of Public Health is currently evaluating that position and will make a determination regarding the issue in the coming weeks,” Pesci said in an email.

Hitlin’s salary was $85,488 in 2012, according to state salary data.

Hitlin was released on Nov. 8 on a $10,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in Orange County court on Jan. 11.

Contact the desk editor at city@dailytarheel.com.