by Bill Poovey
The Associated Press
Friday, April 30, 2010
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The 22-year-old son of a Democratic Tennessee lawmaker has been convicted on two charges in the hacking of Sarah Palin's e-mail account while she campaigned on the Republican presidential ticket in 2008.
The federal court jury reached its verdict Friday against David Kernell after four days of deliberation. He was found guilty of obstruction of justice and unauthorized access to a computer, but was acquitted on a charge of wire fraud.
The jury was deadlocked on a charge of identify theft. Prosecutors reserve the right to have a new trial on that charge.
The charge of obstructing an investigation has a maximum 20-year prison sentence.
Palin and her daughter Bristol testified about harassment and disruption they suffered after some e-mail was posted on line.
Kernell's defense maintained it amounted to a college student prank, not a crime.
