Palin Email Snoop Found Guilty On 2 Charges 291
netbuzz writes "A federal jury in Knoxville today has convicted David Kernell, 22, of two charges — misdemeanor computer fraud and felony obstruction of justice — in connection with the 2008 episode where he accessed the personal Yahoo email account of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and then initiated a worldwide rummaging of its contents. The obstruction charge carries a maximum prison term of 20 years."
I'm still confused by something... (Score:4, Interesting)
I understand (and agree) that the guy should be punished for hacking this account, but how come nothing ever happend about Palin conducting official State business using her personal email account? Is it because the information was technically obtained illegaly? Or did something happen and I just missed it...?
Obstruction of justice (Score:5, Interesting)
What did he do that qualifies as obstruction of justice?
Re:Justice? (Score:5, Interesting)
I wonder if wiping your fingerprints after a robbery constitutes obstruction of justice?
Re:I'm still confused by something... (Score:2, Interesting)
I have been to a few abandoned house parties. It doesn't generally go down like that.
First, someone breaks into the house and unlocks the doors. Then they contact others to come and party, most of which is causes those people to invite others. In the one, I left a bar for an after hours party in a house that turned out to be someone's on vacation but I didn't know that until two weeks later when they returned and it was on the news. In the other situation, I was walking down a street and some girls asked me if I was going to the party, they essentially invited me in. They said someone was having a moving party and wanted as many people as possible to show up. Again, about a week later, I recognized the house on the news.
So I have to ask, did the boys invite the girls over as if they had the authority to do so and be there or did they say "we broke into a house, come over and trash it"? The difference is the amount of culpability you would have. If you broke down in your car, went to the nearest house, knocked on the door and asked to use the phone when someone, answered, if they allow you to enter and use the phone and it turns out they broke into the place, you are not guilty of breaking and entering, or robbery or anything also.
Re:Obstruction of justice (Score:2, Interesting)
Pleading not guilty isn't just for people who are innocent. It's not a dumb idea to do so because it opens several avenues to mitigate the punishment that simply isn't present with a no contest or guilty plea.
Anyone who finds themselves in serious (or any) legal trouble should plead not guilty until they can get competent legal counsel and advice. It won't hurt the judge's feelings if the plea is changed later nor will it matter much if your found guilty unless you turned down a plea bargain from something lesser.
Re:Alaskan judge disagrees with you (Score:1, Interesting)
I didn't realize there were so many Palin fanbois on Slashdot. Interesting. I wonder how that plays into the whole ubuntu vs mac fanboi club?