Except that this creep is being tried in a Federal court.
Yep and facing greater potential penalties than would a state misdemeanor charge carry.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/apr/27/jury-deliberating-palin-e-mail-snooping-case/
Kernell is charged with four felonies including identity theft that carry a maximum possible penalty of 50 years in prison.
Right, and people don’t realize the classes of misdemeanors, the higher (class A) in Texas can carry a year in jail and/or several thousand dollars fine, then of course, a form of restitution may be imposed, so it can get one’s attention.
Even under this class of misdemeanor, a year in jail thinking about tampering with someone’s email might have an impact, sure would send a message to me, but that’s just me.