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David Kernell Sentenced To A Year In Jail

Amit Chowdhry — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 22:29:04 +0000

David Kernell, the “Sarah Palin e-mail hacker” has been sentenced to a year in jail at the Ashland Federal Correctional Institution in Kentucky according to the Federal Bureau of Prison (BOP) records. Kernell was able to hack into Sarah Palin’s Yahoo! e-mail account by guessing her security questions. After breaking into her e-mail account, Kernell got some attention by posting some of Palin’s personal e-mails and photos on the online forum 4chan.

A judge suggested he be put in a half-way house instead of jail. Kernell is expected to be released on November 23rd. Kernell was convicted on two counts of destroying records and unlawful access to a computer this past APril. He was acquitted of wire fraud. Ashland is a low security institution that houses male inmates. It is located 125 miles east of Lexington, Kentucky.

Sarah Palin E-Mail Hacker David Kernell Sentenced To 1 Year In Custody

Amit Chowdhry — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 01:16:30 +0000

David Kernell, a former student at the University of Tennessee hacked into Sarah Palin’s e-mail account during the 2008 presidential campaign. He then leaked some of her e-mails and personal photos on the Internet. Now he has been sentenced to one year in custody.

Kernell was charged for unauthorized access to a protected computer and for destroying records that impedes a federal investigation. He was found not guilty of a wire-fraud charge. U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Phillips recommended Kernell to spend one year and one day inside a halfway house. Kernelle will also have three years of probation.

Kernell apologized to Sarah Palin and her family. Kernell was also recommended treatment for depression.

[TechLand]

Sarah Palin E-Mail Hacker David Kernell Asks For No Jail-Time

Amit Chowdhry — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 18:35:08 +0000

David Kernell, the Tennessee student that hacked into Sarah Palin’s e-mail account is asking if he can skip prison-time. Kernell, 22, was convicted of misdemeanor computer intrusion and a felony count of obstruction of justice. The jury found him not guilty of wire-fraud charge after 4 days of debate.

The convictions carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. According to federal sentencing guidelines, there is a recommended sentence of between 15 and 21 months of prison. The government is currently seeking 18 months of prison time for Kernell.

Kernell is scheduled to to be sentenced on November 12th. Kernell had deleted evidence from his computer out of nervousness, but he did not smash anything or destroy the computer entirely. Kernell’s defense attorney Wade Davies said that the “public humiliation, trial and felony conviction” will prevent his client from committing future clients.

Kernell revealed some of Palin’s private data on public websites. This included two pictures of Palin’s children and five screen shots of e-mail messages. This data was posted on Imageshack and 4chan.

[Wired]

David Kernell Hit With Two Charges For Hacking Into Sarah Palin’s E-Mail

Amit Chowdhry — Mon, 03 May 2010 06:17:13 +0000

David Kernell was convicted by a federal jury in Knoxville, TN in connection with accessing the Yahoo! e-mail account of former U.S. vice president candidate Sarah Palin. He penetrated the e-mail account by selecting the forgot password feature and answering the security questions that Palin selected. He was able to answer the security questions by finding general information about Palin across the Internet.

Kernell was charged with computer fraud and obstruction of justice. Not only did Kernell hack into Palin’s e-mail account, he posted personal photos and e-mails of hers on the Internet. Kernell was not charged with wire fraud or identity theft. Kernell’s father is Michael Kernell, a state legislator in Tennessee. Palin wrote about the incident on Facebook by comparing it to Watergate:
“Violating the law, or simply invading someone’s privacy for political gain, has long been repugnant to Americans’ sense of fair play. As Watergate taught us, we rightfully reject illegally breaking into candidates’ private communications for political intrigue in an attempt to derail an election.” [NetworkWorld]

Sarah Palin E-mail Hacker David Kernell Given 3 More Federal Charges

Amit Chowdhry — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:16:26 +0000

Remember David Kernell? He was the one that hacked into Sarah Palin’s e-mail account and posted her personal photos on 4chan. And then Gawker retrieved those images and posted it on their website. Kernell was able to hack Palin’s e-mail by getting through Yahoo! Mail’s security questions. Today it was announced that three more federal charges were made against Kernell, the University of Tennessee student.

The three new chages are fraud, unlawful electronic transmission of material outside Tennessee, and an attempt to conceal records to impede an FBI investigation.

David pleaded not guilty to all charges. The magistrate agreed to push back Kernell’s trial from May to October. David is the son of a Democratic Tennessee legislator.

[via AP]

Why I Believe David Kernell Should Not Be Put In Jail

Amit Chowdhry — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:38:05 +0000

David Kernell showed up in court this morning and pleaded not guilty to the charge of “violation of the laws of the United States, including 18 U.S.C. Section 2701 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1030(a)(2), intentionally and without authorization accessed a protected computer by means of an interstate communication and thereby obtain information, and did aid and abet in same.”

Kernell is the 20 year old son of Tennessee Democrat state legislator, which makes the case even more glamorous. Did Kernell intend to do any harm to Governor Sarah Palin? Highly unlikely. Kernell just wanted to make a point that Yahoo!’s e-mail system is not very secure and that government business should be conducted through secure means. Before Kernell even posted the pictures and screenshots on 4chan, he made sure that there wasn’t anything incriminating.

Who belongs in jail? I strongly believe that the only people who should be jailed are those who have caused malicious physical or mental harm to another individual. Based on what I’ve seen, Gov. Palin seems to be unaffected by this whole situation. She seems to be too busy causing her rally of supporters to yell out “kill him” in reference to Obama.

Kernell does not deserve to be put in jail. I believe that Palin should become more responsible and Yahoo! should make their e-mail more secure. When hackers penetrate bank websites and networks, they get hired as consultants. Kernell should be charged with a punishment that is more meaningful such as: if he interferes with any more government business on the Internet, he will go to jail for a much more longer term than the maximum time.