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Deliberations began about 10:30 a.m. ET after jurors received their instructions, said Katherine Watson, deputy court clerk.

David Kernell, 22, the son of a Tennessee state representative, is charged with felony identity theft, wire fraud, intentionally accessing Palin’s e-mail account without authorization and obstructing an FBI investigation. He has pleaded not guilty.

Kernell’s defense rested Monday in the Knoxville trial, according to CNN affiliate WATE-TV. He did not take the stand. The defense called one witness, an FBI agent who said Kernell had been emotionally upset, according to the station.

In closing arguments Monday, prosecutors told jurors that Kernell, who was a student at the University of Tennessee, was persistent in gaining access to Palin’s account, and once he did it, chose not to back down, WATE reported. At the time, Palin was the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee.

Defense attorney Wade Davies told jurors that what Kernell did is closer to a prank than a crime, according to WATE. He pointed out that Kernell didn’t use the information he obtained or harass Palin’s family.

According to a federal indictment, Kernell allegedly accessed Palin’s e-mail by resetting the password. He then allegedly read the contents and made screenshots of the e-mail directory and other personal information.

“The personal information included, and was not limited to, other e-mail addresses of family members, pictures of family members, at least one cell phone number of a family member, the dates of birth of Governor Palin and another family member, and Governor Palin’s address book,” the indictment said.

The screenshots were posted on a public website, and Kernell is alleged also to have posted the newly created password on that site, allowing others to access Palin’s e-mail account, according to the indictment.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/27/palin.hacking.case/