Home
U.S.
World
Entertainment
Sports
Business
Health
Science
Technology
Politics
Offbeat
Environment
Travel
News
Articles
Palin E-Mail Hacker Convicted
Email
Facebook
Digg
Twitter
Buzz Up!
ShareThis
May 3, 2010 9:38 a.m. EST
Topics: science and technology, politics, crime, law and justice, United States
Kris Alingod - AHN News Contributor
Knoxville, TN, United States (AHN) - A Tennessee man who claimed his hacking of former Gov. Sarah Palin's personal e-mail account in 2008 was a simple prank has been convicted on two of four charges.
A federal grand jury in Knoxville found David Kernell, 22, guilty of unauthorized access to obtain information from a computer, a misdemeanor, and obstruction of justice. He was found innocent of wire fraud.
The jury could not decide on a charge of identity theft and the judge had to declare a mistrial on that fourth allegation.
Kernell faces as much as a year in prison and a $100,000 fine for the charge of computer fraud, and 20 and a $250,000 fine for obstruction of justice.
Sentencing has not been set and Kernell is free on bond.
Kernell was a University of Tennessee engineering student when he was arrested in 2008 on suspicion of hacking into the Yahoo e-mail account of Palin. Prosecutors say he gained access to the account by answering security questions such as Palin's date of birth, and then resetting the password to "popcorn."
A state champion chess player and the son of Democratic state Rep. Mike Kernell, he read messages in the e-mail account, made screenshots of the e-mail directory and of pages showing Palin’s personal information. He posted the screenshots as well as the new password on an imageboard website.
The hacking occurred on Sept. 16, less than two months before the 2008 presidential election, and amid criticisms against Palin, then governor, for using her Yahoo e-mail account to conduct state business.
Kernell's father, a Democrat, has not been charged in the case.
Palin resigned last summer, a year and a half before her first term as governor ended, prompting heightened speculation that she plans a 2012 run for the White House. The 45-year-old hockey mom is credited with renewing enthusiasm for the GOP when she was chosen as the running mate of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).
However, her relative lack of political experience and a slew of negative reports pushed the McCain campaign, citing "sexism" and a "smear campaign," to keep her away from the press. She also came under fire for comments such as her remakr that the vice president is "in charge of the Senate" and her reply to a foreign policy question that Russia can be seen from her state.
Palin has issued a statement through her Facebook page thanking the jury in the hacking case for having "thoroughly and carefully weighed the evidence and issued a just verdict." She added, "As Watergate taught us, we rightfully reject illegally breaking into candidates’ private communications for political intrigue in an attempt to derail an election. "
Copyright © 2003 - 2010 AHN - All rights reserved.Redistribution, republication. syndication, rewriting or broadcast is prohibited without the prior written consent of AHN.License AHN news for your website, business, digital signage network or publication.
Most Popular Stories
Brad Pitt Calls Ex-Wife Jennifer Aniston Pathetic
Bret Michaels Doctor Says His Sheer Will To Live May Save Him
Boston Water Unfit For Drinking After "Catastrophic" Pipe Burst; State of Emergency Declared
Michigan Becomes Latest State To Ban Public Smoking
Study Suggests Obese Kids More Likely To Be Bullied
Illinois Congressman Arrested During Arizona Immigration Law Protest
Palin E-Mail Hacker Convicted
Lindsay Lohan May Be Going To Jail After Allegedly Violating Judges Order
Henin Captures First Title Since Return At Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Ishikawa Captures Crowns Tourney Title With Tour Record 58
Recent Posts
Most Popular Comments
Recent Comments
Popular Threads
Home | U.S. | World | Entertainment | Sports | Business | Health | Sci / Tech | Politics | Weird / Offbeat
Follow AHN on Twitter
AHN Social News connects you with friends and the news
Client Login | Submit News | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact | Content Services © 2010 AHN All Rights Reserved
Other News on Monday, 3 May 2010 Four killed in Darfur protest
Spain reverses rise in unemployment: report
Explosion damages HSBC branch in Athens, no injuries
|
Norsk Hydro to buy Vale's aluminium assets
Pope, in respite from scandal, visits Turin Shroud
|
Higgins's snooker future in question over match-fixing claims
Obama visits scene of US oil spill
Pakistan Taliban group claims NY bomb attempt in video: SITE
Bomb strikes amid concern about Afghan deaths
China orders tighter school security after attacks
Push for Afghan role delays military building
Report: Lightning kills at least 16 in Bangladesh
Rescue workers recover 28 bodies from China mine
Maoist strike shuts down Nepal; gov't urges talks
Pakistani army kills 22 Taliban near Afghan border
Afghan civilian deaths are rising, government says
Pakistan jets kill 13 militants: military
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
"Iron Man 2" opens big at international box office
Iron Man 2 opens big at international box office
|
Two bomb blasts hit Afghanistan
Swastika on British parliament targets far-right
North Korea's Kim seeking lifeline in China
|
Canada broadcaster seeks to revolutionize energy consumption
Bomb hits near NATO base in Afghanistan: official
'Trust' lacking in stalled climate talks: Merkel, Calderon
Thai red shirts ignore new government threats
|
Four killed in Darfur protest over cash scam
United, Continental to announce merger plans: US media
Obama defends his US oil slick response
India court to deliver verdict on Mumbai attack suspect
|
Suicide blast outside foreign base in Afghanistan
|
Taiwan says will not seek U.S. help to fight wars
|
Obama Holds British Petroleum Responsible For Spill As Administration Struggles With Response
Sikh Summit In Washington DC To Engage Lawmakers
Boston Water Unfit For Drinking After "Catastrophic" Pipe Burst; State of Emergency Declared
Videos appear to show Pakistan Taliban chief alive
Iran does not need to gain West's trust: Ahmadinejad
N.Korean leader on rare visit to China
NY police look for suspects behind failed car bombing
Australia to establish arsonist database
Video appears to show Pakistan Taliban chief alive
Maoist strike shuts down Nepal for second day
Thai 'red shirts' ignore new government threats
Swimmer Thorpe scotches Olympic comeback speculation
Reports: NKorean leader travels to China
Mumbai attacks suspect faces court verdict
India court to deliver verdict on Mumbai attack suspect
U.S. pressures BP over oil spill as Obama visits Gulf
Pakistan Taliban chief's threatens US in new video: SITE
Euro, stocks tumble on doubts over Greek bailout
Taiwan stocks end down; China, eurozone worries weigh
Activist icon laments Toyota's easy ride in Japan
Oliver Stone inks TV deal with Epix
Seoul shares fall 1.2 pct weighed by techs, Doosan
Pakistani c.bank sells 65 bln rupees of T-bills
S.Korea prices, manufacturing pick up, stir hike talk
China targets `foreign forces' in Web crackdown
PAKISTAN
Arizona dilemma: who is a legal resident and who isn't?
China's central bank hikes banks' reserve minimum
NZ April commodity prices hit record high
O'Brien says tour best cure for "Tonight" debacle
Oliver Stone inks TV deal with Epix
English Lake District: Japan tourists' donations help
"Thriller" voted most influential pop video in poll
Dream box office sales for 'Nightmare on Elm Street'
Polanski says extradition case based on a lie
Broadway shows go on after car bomb attempt
Rush documentary wins Tribeca audience award
Polanski says extradition case based on a lie
|
O'Brien says tour best cure for Tonight debacle
|
Iron Man 2 opens big at international box office
|
Thriller voted most influential pop video in poll
|
Rush documentary wins Tribeca audience award
|
Oliver Stone inks TV deal with Epix
|
Election recount under way in Baghdad
US-TECH Summary
Iraq starts vote recount, may take almost 2 weeks
Electronic medical orders may save lives
Iraq starts vote recount, may take almost 2 weeks
|
Greece rushes austerity cuts as anger builds
Suicide attack targets US base in Afghanistan
Election recount under way in Baghdad
Massive Snowstorm On Saturn Visible On Earth
U.S. envoy arrives for Israeli-Palestinian talks
|
Reformed Afghan suicide bomber joins police
Shakira To Kick Off 2010 Tour In America
UK Conservatives could secure tiny majority: poll
|
Failing United and Continental Form World's Biggest Airline With Merger
Palin E-Mail Hacker Convicted
Coast Guard Responding To Second Oil Rig Accident In Louisiana
FDA: "Vita Breath" Herbal Supplement Contains Dangerous Lead Levels
First Detroit Officer Killed On Duty In 6 Years
Michigan Becomes Latest State To Ban Public Smoking
Study Suggests Obese Kids More Likely To Be Bullied
Director Adam McKay: Paramount Says No To Anchorman 2
NKorean leader reportedly visiting China
Intel: US missiles kill 4 in northwest Pakistan
Indian court convicts Pakistani for Mumbai siege
An Error has occured |
Egyptian protesters clash with police
|
Maoists shut down Nepal, testing peace process
Three reject Spanish court as car bomb trial opens
|
Thai premier to offer political solution to crisis
Kuwait says detains several in security probe
|
Beijing police shoot man who abducted girl
Video appears to show Pakistan Taliban chief alive
FACTBOX-Key political risks to watch in Taiwan
Pakistani stocks down; rupee weakens; o/n rates up
FACTBOX-Key political risks to watch in New Zealand
S.Korea finmin "careful" on interest rate policy
Seoul shares fall as tech, Doosan firms drop
Swiss say up to US to look into Polanski claims
Apple iPad reaches 1 million sales faster than iPhone
|
IBM buys cloud computing software firm Cast Iron
|
Watchdog names 40 'predators of the press'
Indonesian jailed for killing Japanese tourist
China guards against overseas hostile forces on Web
|
"Dark Knight" sequel gets official release date
Electronic medical orders may save lives
|
Rush documentary wins Tribeca audience award
|
Dark Knight sequel gets official release date
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights