DOCUMENT: Celebrity, Crime

Palin Hacker Asks Judge For Prison Pass

Felon cites “public humiliation” in bid for probation

Sarah Palin

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David Kernell Filing

OCTOBER 27--Facing a possible prison term for hacking into Sarah Palin’s e-mail account, a Tennessee man instead wants a federal judge to sentence him to probation since the electronic incursion was an “aberration from his normal course of conduct” and the felony case has left him publicly humiliated.

David Kernell, 22, also contends that his “youth and emotional condition” supports his petition for a downward departure from sentencing guidelines that carry a range of 15 to 21 months in custody. Kernell made his probation request in a filing yesterday in U.S. District Court in Knoxville. A related submission was filed under seal since it contained “protected health information from treatment when Mr. Kernell was a juvenile.”

In a sentencing memorandum filed this afternoon, federal prosecutors asked Judge Thomas Phillips to sentence Kernell to 18 months in prison, charging that his motive was to “derail a national campaign” by searching for incriminating information about the Republican vice presidential candidate.

The former University of Tennessee student, who was convicted at trial on two felony counts, is scheduled to be sentenced on November 12. Kernell hacked into Palin’s Yahoo e-mail in September 2008 and posted photos and screenshots from the politician’s account (he also boasted about the hack in a detailed online post on the 4chan message board).

Kernell’s motion notes that “general deterrence” has been achieved as a result of his conviction “by educating the public that accessing another’s email account is conduct that violates federal law.”

Palin and her daughter Bristol both testified for the prosecution at Kernell’s trial. It is unknown whether either woman would seek to submit a victim’s impact statement in advance of the sentencing of Kernell, who is pictured in the above mug shot. (4 pages)

Comments (26)

The following time I read a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I imply, I do know it was my option to learn, but I really thought youd have one thing interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you might repair in case you werent too busy looking for attention. Free Porn incognizant Sex thigmotaxis Shemale porn hydrothermally Free Porn myoelectrical
***Kernell’s motion notes that “general deterrence” has been achieved as a result of his conviction “by educating the public that accessing another’s email account is conduct that violates federal law.”*** Yeah, sorry bud, I don't think so. Not all of us need our hands held through life. We already knew it was illegal to hack into someone else's email. You do the crime, you gotta do the time. This man knew exactly what he was doing.
All you douchebags that think what he did was OK because it was Sarah Palin are the same group of idiots that cried when Bush OKed intercepting emails from terrorists.Imagine that!
Palin didnt loose the election for McCain, the Slack jawed jack-waggons who voted for the Great Community (couldnt lead to save his life) organizer did. Also the concervative's that were so dissolusioned with the do nothing republican congress (Ya hear that Denny Hassert !, ya rat-fink). Word !
Can't imagine there would any intelligence in her email. She cost McCain the election.
To all you a**wipes who believe that this punk should get off because he violated Sara Palin, you are truly dispicable human beings. What if someone did that to your wife, mother, or sister? He should serve the max. More if they can prove conspiracy with his dirtbag father.
I a**ee. twoeye. These st*pid, dumb***'s dont kno* sh*t ab**t anyth***g! ***!
hello,.the fact that people like DE guy hold this felon in high regard, shows that the praise cancels out any humiliation he has been subjected to, so we are right back to square one, so jail time it is. cheap used cars
This is white carol.the fact that people like DE guy hold this felon in high regard, shows that the praise cancels out any humiliation he has been subjected to, so we are right back to square one, so jail time it is.cheap used cars
The criminal was helping his father, a Democrat elected official, to affect a Presidential election. The criminal should get the maximum sentence. His father should have been indicted too.
Sorry but 22, which made him 20 at the time of his flash of stupidity, does not qualify for I made a teenaged mistake. Wrong answer bucko. You made an illegal, felonious mistake of an adult. Welcome to the wide wonderful world outside of your dorm room or daddy's basement. It wasn't an accident, it wasn't for kicks, it was an attempt to trash and influence the outcome of a national election. Who cares if it was Palin. Would you feel the same if he hacked into Obama's email? Or yours? The "oh she was askin for it cuz she'z stewpid" arguments isn't any different than she was askin for it cause she wore that dress. Or cause she smiled. Or had pretty hair. She wasn't asking for a dang thing. Mr. Trust Fund baby, who let us not forget has a dad deeply involved in the Democrat side of politics, deserves everything and more that can be thrown his way. Shame on him for his stupidity, shame on us if we dismiss it as OK because we don't like the victim.
Folks. Fascists were intent on creating a country in which all power was taken away from the people and put into the hands of the government. By definition, that is LEFT wing. Not right wing. Perhaps if DE Guy ever gets out of his mommy's basement he can borrow a history book from the library using his mommy's card and learn about how governments work and what words mean.
He claims he should get probation because what has happened thus far serves as "general deterrence." If there is no jail time for this serious crime, there will be no deterrence at all for others who are tempted to follow in his footsteps.
Davey, When your new room mate asks you if you want to play house remember how much fun you had telling all your friends you hacked into Mrs. Palin's e-mail. It might take your mind off of the "fun new experiences" you are about to learn about.
To recap: A teenager made a stupid, impulsive decision, but realized very quickly that it had been a mistake, But it was too late to undo the mistake, and as a result Sarah Palin was put through a significant amount of stress. So that teenager's punishment is ........: to get $30,000 fees for speaking about her mistake, and a slot on "Dancing With The Stars." Hmmm.....
Awesome, Buzzsaw. I doubt anyone else will get it though. Most posters seem a little, shall I say...slow?
Wow, yeah. That's a real clever brain-buster.
That's funny! Everything "Vink" put in his post about liberal Democrats actually, and more accurately, applies to right-wing Nazi fascists...errr, I mean, Republicans. Why don't you right-wing fascists all build a time machine and go back to Italy during WWII. I'm sure you'd all be right at home!
I'm sure you get this all the time DE guy, but you are one clever fellow. All of us Nazi facists...errr, I mean Republicans already know what your reply will be but, please, do reply.
do your mommies know you are playing with her computer. Jealous of Sarah Palin, puh theh tic.
Oh Puhleeezze, give me a break you idiots!!!! To those who say "please give the kid a break" and "oh come on, its just Sarah Palin" let me ask you liberal clowns the following: Would you all say the same thing if it was Barack Obama's email that was hacked by this immature little dope? Oh hell no you wouldn't now, would you!?? You would be ready to lock his butt up and throw away the key!! And no, I'm not taking up for Sarah Palin either! He knew what he was doing when he did that crap! I'm sure he sat there and hee-hee'd and high-fived with his cohorts after he did it! He should suffer the consequences! Throw his goofy looking ass in a cell with some big burly hairy tattooed ex-biker inmate...the kind who looks this kid in the face while walking through the cell door and says "honey, I'm home"!!
He looks like most male Liberal Democrats. Pathetic. He committed a crime, now he's asking to sidestep the law because of his class status. Typical. He's a horrible, stupid, douche bag. Liberal, criminal, democrat, jackass, weakling, coward, progressive, sissy... all terms to describe the same kind of wanker.
the fact that people like DE guy hold this felon in high regard, shows that the praise cancels out any humiliation he has been subjected to, so we are right back to square one, so jail time it is.
Since it's Sarah Palin, no harm, no foul imo. The guy should get probation - AT MOST. What he truly deserves is a medal - and perhaps a check as well - for going after and attempting to embarass this horrible, stupid, evil woman.
Poor poor widdle Davey, so youthful and emotional...I hope the judge tacks on another 18 months in prison for being such a whiney little biatch. Davey is going to make some nice fellow a pretty little girlfriend and get NPR'd big time!
Come On! It's Sarah Palin.. Sure he hacked her account ,but how disappointing is it to read three word sentences followed by lol through her entire account? Poor Lad.. ;)