KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge has declined to throw out the convictions of a former University of Tennessee student for hacking Sarah Palin’s e-mail account during the 2008 campaign.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Phillips issued the ruling Thursday and The Knoxville News Sentinel reported that the defense attorney for David C. Kernell is appealing to a higher court.
Kernell was found guilty last April in federal court of obstruction of justice and unauthorized access to a computer, but acquitted of a wire fraud charge. His attorney contended the hacking was a prank.
The former Alaska governor and her daughter Bristol testified that the hacking caused them emotional hardship.
Kernell could face 15 to 21 months in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 29.
___
Information from: The Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com
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Comments (77)
hempstead1944
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 9:16amA “real” judge…..who da thunk? At least there is one left in the United States of America !
Report Post »jeffyfreezone
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 9:13amI hope he has to do maximum time!
Report Post »nostromo
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 8:36amWe are either a nation of laws or not. It is either a crime to hack into personal emails or not. I cant see what the confusion is here. Dont people pull pranks that go wrong and people get hurt? Arent they held culpable?
Report Post »jcessna
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 7:04am15 to 21 months? He’s getting off easy! How about tacking on about 2000 hours of Community Service with the charity of Sarah’s choice!
Report Post »irefuse2
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 2:36amso the Dem Sen son doesnt want to do the time anyone else would have to do if there daddy wasnt a Sen thats cool as long as his sentence is commuted to 5000 hours of community service standing in front of the state capitial holding a sign that says something like “Im the worlds biggest assclown”
Report Post »kontrarian
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 12:45amPalin is one of the few politicians to dare to wade into the “birther” pool. Here’s some vindication:
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=207197
Report Post »alaska_juliens
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 12:21amJoke or no joke, he should be found guilty. But we all know the liberal judges will just slap him on the wrist and tell him in behind closed doors “good job…you may have saved us from the lipstick wearin’ mama grizz”
Report Post »CitizenJob
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 12:04amI am thoroughly amused by the comments posted by leftist commentators. They always revert to name calling and outright slander.
It will be very entertaining to witness the collective mental breakdown of the leftist hordes as they are summarily kicked out of Washington by the adults come November. Barack is going to be a VERY lonely man.
Report Post »urik84
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 11:15pmthis kid knew he was breaking the law. and he didnt just go after palin he whent after her daughter to. politics may be dirty but you always leav the family alone.
Report Post »enjoy jail kid and remember to get those prison tats were they cant be seen when you get out. lol
Dddriver
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 10:56pmHahahahaha. Funny joke who’s laughing now?
Report Post »Broker. Why are you even conversing w/ this guy? He’s only spewing garbage. Save the debate for people who can actually reason beyond the end of their immediate ideology
broker0101
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 11:18pmWhy do cats bat balls of yarn around? That’s the best description I can give you.
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 10:42pmDEMAGOGUE, “So if a chimpanzee funded the magazine, would the outcome of the study be any different?” ABSOLUTELY! The outcome of the “study” was written before the “study” was ever performed. The “study” was a vehicle for the Leftist Billionaires who fund Education Week to push their Social-Engineering agenda.
Report Post »I’ll type this slowly in hopes you can keep up……. How would you react to an “education study” funded by Rupert Murdoch (which doesn’t happen because Conservatives can be honest about their motives and policies)?
everythinguknowiswrong
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 11:09pmAre you so clinically paranoid that you think any of the funding sources told their researchers to skew data to show the washington dc has the worst schools in the nation, as well as what rank each of the 50 states should be given? Do you think the Pew Charitable Trusts or the Wallace Foundation are inherently evil, also?
What is fair and balanced about fox “news”? Pretending that biased political discourse is news, much less, fair and balance is ridiculous.
Broker, it is praise to call you a moron. You are an idiot, a babbling one at that.
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 11:17pmI have simply learned well from your ilk that Billionaires and their money are evil. Anything they fund is, by definition, corrupt and untrustworthy. Where am I wrong?
Report Post »P.S. On a previous topic, I’m telling you, you better buckle up, because your web browser history and e-mail Outbox are not pretty. You might want to start screening your calls.
GlennBeckIsADemagogue
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 11:44pmBroker “I have simply learned well from your ilk that Billionaires and their money are evil. Anything they fund is, by definition, corrupt and untrustworthy.”
Now if you can apply that to the Koch Brothers, FreedomWorks, and Americans for Prosperity, as well as Rupert and Fox, then you will have learned something useful tonight and my efforts will not have been for naught. Have a good evening and a wonderful tomorrow. Sorry i called you an idiot.
Report Post »Dweeby_EE
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 10:25pmEVERYTHINGYOUTYPEISSTUPID, (…wow Broker, that is delicious…) when you say, “Are you so clinically paranoid that you think any of the funding sources told their researchers to skew data to show the washington dc has the worst schools in the nation, as well as what rank each of the 50 states should be given,” I say, “Why yes.” The left has proven time and time and time again ad nausiam that they WILL in fact lie, cheat, distort, and skew numbers to their advantage to aid their talking points. One has to look no farther than at the totally BS papers, fake research, and citing HIGH SCHOOL science papers in Climate Change studies indicating a bogus temperature spike, when in fact the temperature trend is DECREASING, and has been for over a decade.
And as far as Fox is concerned, only ignorance would view Chris Wallace, Shep Smith, and Bret Baire as right wingers. Anyone can see that Hannity and Beck are OPINION shows, and not news. And even Hannity and O’Reilly have BOTH sides of the argument on full display. It’s not THEIR fault the lefters cannot defend their arguments without name-calling.
Report Post »carol m
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 10:16pmJust another rich kid with nothing better to do, because his parents did nt=ot have time for him they were too busy campaigning. So they gave him everything and look at what he choses to do with it. Oh wait isn‘t that how Bill Ayers got his start only there weren’t computers then. Heres a kid who should have known better and probably did and I guess in his mind (you know the one with 2 cells left) he thought he was helping his party. Isn’t that he kind of thinking that needs to be sent to prison? After all when Nixon had those guy break into that office (can’t remember the name) didn’t they go to jail. They thought they were just helping their president.
Report Post »payitforward
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 10:12pmgbeck2112, How about if these hackers published your mail to the web? also what if you were running for high office and it was a blatant attempt to affect the outcome. I think the kid a lot less than he deserved. It’s time put a stop to this crooked stuff and get our houses in order. just saying
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 10:10pmThe sentence could range between fifteen to twenty-one months I am told. Well then, make it 21!
Report Post »e-merlin
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:29pmGawd, these dopy lefties posting here! (Sigh) I think I’m going to go troll Otherwords and do unto others…
Report Post »El Flandrino
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:29pmHere’s one for the hacker to grown on. Take your hit like a man. It is pathetic how often people line up to explain away bad behavior. At the end of the day the kid violated another citizen’s privacy and caused harm.
A nation of Laws should not pick winners and losers based on WHO the victim and WHO the perpetrator are.
Maybe this will teach the kid what his parent failed to teach him. Enjoy the crossbar hotel dude. Put down your computer and man up!
Report Post »everythinguknowiswrong
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:03pmI’m curious what harm was actually done, aside from making ms palin look like the dumba$$ that she is. No wonder she chose to prosecute to the fullest extent.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:16pm@ everythinguknowiswrong
So do you agree its OK for anyone to hack into e-mails and computer files of other people ?
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:23pmEVERYTHINGYOUTYPEISSTUPID, I believe your question is most effectively answered by U.S. District Judge Thomas Phillips. Please do let us know what the Honorable Mr. Phillips has to say, won’t you?
Report Post »e-merlin
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:27pmto EVERYTHINGYOUKNOWISWRONG,
Why does it matter whether or not there was harm? If you hold up a bank and don’t injur anyone, it’s still a crime, right?
Report Post »gbeck2012
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:44pmOK, just to play devil’s advocate here, because i do think hacking into someone’s email is not a good thing to do. Let’s say someone hacks into my email. I go to the police, but remember, i’m a nobody. You know what they are going to tell me after they realize no money was stolen? They are going to say, keep an eye out on your credit report and your accounts, and be sure to report anything suspicious, followed with “Change your password to a better one”. That would be the end of my case. Seriously, 15-21 months in prison is pretty stiff (no pun intended).
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:50pmEverythingYouKnowIsWrong, may I have your e-mail address. Please.
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:56pmPOVERTY, I’ve already got it, along with is computer’s IP address. You’ll get a HUGE kick out of the e-mails he’s been sending over the past twenty-two and half months or so.
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 10:02pm….Not to mention his Browser History. Holy Molé!!!! There are going to be some VERY unhappy, disappointed, angry and ashamed people in his life in the near future.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 10:16pmCool! Just wanted pass along some TREET.
Report Post »leftylemn
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:17pmHe’s the spawn of a liberal dad .
Report Post »Weetsie
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:40pmI think they are referred to as DEMON SPAWN!
Report Post »GlennBeckIsADemagogue
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:13pmLooking at Education Week’s “Quality Counts 2009” report, it appears that most (an overwhelming majority) of the states having the worst schools are red states. So are the states red (republican) because they have substandard schools and thus generate a less educated populace? OR Are the schools bad because the republicans (less government) don’t believe on spending money where it is needed in education? Probably both factors are at work here. Regardless, I predict the republicans will continue to hold power in those states by nurturing an environment of ignorance. Remember George Orwell? Ignorance is Strength.
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:19pmYour source, Education Week, is a widely respected, objective publication………wait for it……..wait for it…………BAAAAHHHHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAH……………..BBBAAAAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHHA!!!!!!!! Go peddle your drivel to the truly stupid (try Daily Kos, Huffingtonwhatever, etc). You will be philosophically obliterated here.
Report Post »C. Schwehr
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:59pmHmmmm….going off the subject because you can’t talk intelligently about it? As for your projection of Progressive educational policy on to Conservative leaning states, well most know here that you’re speaking from a false analogy in the first place. Look at the states which have the HIGHEST per student costs and find if they actually produce superior graduates…THEY DON’T. If anything, the standards are worse than those states which use their education dollars more effectively, such as Utah. And it can be shown that educational quality has dropped significantly AFTER the Dept of Education was established as a payback to the NEA for getting Jimmy Carter elected. De-establish the DOE and you’ll IMPROVE the quality of education.
Report Post »Weetsie
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:31pmHold on there ASSHOLEIMMATATINGGLENNBECK… I didn’t hear you mention the drop out rates of the liberal states. Hmmm, wonder why?
Report Post »GlennBeckIsADemagogue
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:31pmBroker, did i mention what a complete idiot you are?
gbeck2012
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:37pmActually, 4 of the bottom 10 states (well 3 states and Dof C which was worst) are blue. That’s still 60% red for the bottom 10. And really, the trend continues for the bottom 25-35 states or so. You really should check out the report card on the states… it makes no mention of red states vs blue states. It’s a very interesting correlation, though.
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:45pmDEMAGOGUE, Did I mention who the Funders of Education Weekly are? Here are the greatest hits: Carnegie Corporation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Report Post »So, you are simply defending (while trying to obfuscate the identity) of a Billionaire’s, Leftist, Social Engineering Special Interest Group. Now, I know the best you’ve got is to call me another name, so, take your best shot, tough guy.
GlennBeckIsADemagogue
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 10:20pmBroker- since education weekly made no mention of red or blue states, only how various states scored according to objective criteria, what difference does it make if it was funded by glenn beck or a chimpanzee?
Report Post »(bad choice, there). So if a chimpanzee funded the magazine, would the outcome of the study be any different? no. the red state/blue state was an observation of my own, although i’m sure many others have made the same observation. Having said that, you are a poopoo headed momma’s boy of questionable orientation who pretends to be smart because he went to college and knows he is better than everyone else because he makes more money than they do. Oh yeah. One more thing. Yomama wears army boots and support hose (raspberry noise)
GlennBeckIsADemagogue
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 11:35pmC Schwehr- i wouldn’t get too excited about using utah as an example- they were 14th from the bottom, aka the 14th worst.
Report Post »CoFX
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 1:08amDemagogue, how many times are you going to copy and paste this under unrelated stories?
If you were really concerned about eductaion, rather than finding the set of data that supports your belief that republicans are ignorant, you may want to check other statistics that play a role. Go plug in drop out rates, teacher per student ratio, education budget, graduation rates, and see how you come out then.
Too much work? Just want an easy stat to point to intellegence? Here’s an easy one for you – go look up SAT test scores by state and see what you find. When based on test scores only, not influenced by any of the previously listed factors, funny how the red states consistently perform higher on SAT‘s and ACT’s than blue states. In fact, heavily democratic states generally have the lowest test scores.
Report Post »kontrarian
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 3:47amDemagogue: I didn’t know that Obama wears army boots and support hose (raspberry noise).
Report Post »jazman1960
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 12:17pmOh I get it your saying were to stupid to get the prank. So what your saying that the spying Richard Nixon did would have been ok if he had only called it a prank?
Report Post »tr68gt
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:06pmHow can you defend a crime on the stance that it was just a prank?
Report Post »rocktruth
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:25pmAccidents can kill people. Pranks can hurt people. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Letting the world know that violating private property will be punished is a good thing.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:46pmYou see your Honor, when our son says it’s a prank, he really means that. For example, one lovely Summer Sunday morning we’re getting ready for church, on our way out the front door I was surprised to see my Mercedes Benz SLS AMG in the driveway as if it were wrapped around a telephone pole. The funniest thing is, we don’t have a telephone pole in our driveway, just looking at the car, I swear I could see a telephone pole… hahaha… you had to been there. Any hoot, I looked at my son, and said, “son”, what’s the meaing of this? With the saddest looking eyes I’ve ever seen, he looked up to me and said “April Fools”? I was bit confused, his expression looked as if he’s asking for permission, April was a couple of months ago, yet, he did say “April Fools”. He continued assuring me that the insurance company is in on it, they’ll even arange for a car to get me to church. And they did! They even got me a newer SLS AMG. So there you have it your honor, when my son says it’s just a prank, you just can’t resist and just laugh, “it’s a prank”! No one really got hurt.
Report Post »rocktruth
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 2:57amThanks poverty.sucks, I enjoyed your musing analogy. It was entertaining too. Did any of that really happen?
Obviously he was lying. In an act of rebellion he hacked Sarah’s email account and shortly after fearfully confessed. He had nothing to laugh about.
From wikipedia:
The hacker admitted(on a bulletin board) he was worried about being caught, writing “Yes I was behind a proxy, only one, if this sh_t ever got to the FBI I was f…ked, I panicked, I still wanted the stuff out there … so I posted the [information] … and then promptly deleted everything, and unplugged my internet and just sat there in a comatose state.”
The hacker left behind traces of his activity. His IP address was logged at the single proxy he used…
Report Post »http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin_email_hack
cheezwhiz
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:06pmSo this slimeball is just a
“former University of Tennessee student ” ?
How about giving his complete description :
” Obama’s campaigner and son of Democrat State rep from Memphis , who is a former University of Tennessee student “
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:14pmMore specifically Mr. Kernell is the, “Son of longtime Democratic state representative Mike Kernell of Memphis.”
Report Post »CatB
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 10:06pmAlways thought that was quite the coincidence …..NOT!
Report Post »alienguns
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 7:58pmso when did it become ok to break the law if it was just a prank—guess I’ll go rob a bank and claim it was just a prank IF I GET CAUGHT–has the world gone mad or just me?
Report Post »H2OBoardem
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:11pmThat happened back when Singapore wanted to cane an ADD American kid tor tagging vehicles. Personally, I whish he’d gotten 12 with the intention of him remembering the six he was sentenced to. Pranks gone bad should be stiffer sentences.
Report Post »C. Schwehr
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:44pmIt’s you, sir. You’ve remained sane while the rest of the world went TILT! Join the rest of us!
Report Post »mintyfresh
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 1:12pmyeah, he should have to share a cell with James O’Keefe.
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 7:56pmAnd…..que the bedwetters defending the criminal and slandering Mrs. Palin. Ready, go!
Report Post »belleharbor
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 7:54pmMust of been out of DOJ control to toss his form of law makes me sick out with eric holder the clown.
Report Post »vic138
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 11:41pmHe‘s the wrong color to get ’special’ attention from the DOJ.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 7:51pmWhat ever happens to Kernell in prison, not to worry, it’s just a prank.
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 7:57pmPrecisely. It’s probably best to close your eyes, think of someplace nice and try to relax.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:06pmI’m sure the prison he goes to will be the one that all the “important” people go to – the one that never sees the murderers, rapists, molesters that other prisons see. And if, by some slim chance he should go to a dangerous prison, he will be protected. Look at Lindsay Lohan, Martha Stewart, etc. and that will be his fate, as it were. It’s the rest of up “lizard brains” that would end up underneath the prison, not that we would stoop so low as he did.
Report Post »H2OBoardem
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:09pmHopefully he‘ll be someone’s girlfriend real soon and find out what it’s like to lose control of your life.
Report Post »wodiej
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:43pmif he bends over to pick up the soap, I guarantee you that it won’t be a prank. Maybe this little moron will learn that bad behavior brings unpleasant consequences.
Report Post »kindling
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:51pmdoesn‘t prank just mean spoiled kids get away with things other kids would be punished for if their parents don’t have money to change the definition
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 10:11pmOuch, he cried!
Report Post »Peraslax
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 10:03amReally?? Wishing someone gets raped? That’s what we have come to? The guy deserves some prison time for what he did, But I wouldnt wish that kind of violation on any person. I swear, we conservatives like to talk about the irrational haters on the left, but I honestly, cant help but think that sometimes we are throwing bricks in a glass house
Report Post »icesk8rgirl96
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 7:51pmI think that‘s good that he’s getting jail time, how dare he hack into Sarah Palin‘s or anyone’s email and post personal things on the internet. Bristol’s private life should be just that, private.
Report Post »Compete or Lose
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:13pmHe needs a big fine and jail time to set an example to all other young adults–(Key word ADULTS)
After all
IF THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES…….THER ARE NO RULES
RGS
Report Post »Dawgrun
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 12:11amDepends on how good he is at hacking is to where he will go.
Report Post »SteveSD
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 1:11amJust force him to live with Levi Johnston for a year — worse than any jail. ;)
Report Post »mintyfresh
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 1:11pmyeah, when i want my private life to be kept private, i often sign up to be on multiple television shows.
Report Post »indy1
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 6:34pmThat stupid lib deserves 20 years for what he did.
Report Post »