Breaking - jurors reported they have reached a verdict on 3 of 4 charges in Palin hacking trial

knoxville news ^ | April 29, 2010 | Jim Balloch

[Bigtigermike]

KNOXVILLE - Federal court jurors reported today they have reached a verdict on three of four charges against former University of Tennessee student David C. Kernell, accused of illegally accessing the private e-mail account of 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

But they also reported they are deadlocked on the first count, a charge of identity theft.

Without asking what their verdict is on the other counts, U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Phillips sent them back to the jury room to continue deliberating the first count.

In their written communication to the judge this afternoon, the jurors said: "Some of us feel not all jurors are following the jury instruction."

On its third morning of deliberations, the East Tennessee jury pondering charges against Kernell asked to review a federal law addressing identity theft. That's the count on which the jurors deadlocked.

After some discussion with lawyers, Phillips decided today to give them a copy of the law - with some sections blacked out that he said are irrelevant to the case.

Jurors then indicated they wished to go to lunch. The panel is expected to resume deliberations at 1 p.m. today.

[Bigtigermike]

A semi-lib is probably in the group...

[tcrlaf]

This guy needs to join Vikram Buddi, Carlos HArtmann, Suleman Talivic, and Patrick Bedell in the Yahoo Haliburton Financial Board Hall of Shame.

Someone should point out how just ONE Yahoo message board has been home to so many leftist killers and felons.

[TonyInOhio]

This goober walks, just watch.

[secret garden]

I don’t think it was wise to redact any of the law since he is deciding for them which parts may or may not apply.

[Bigtigermike]

I know he will walk.....

[manic4organic]

Death! Just kidding. Although the libs would act this way.

[Carry_Okie]

In their written communication to the judge this afternoon, the jurors said: "Some of us feel not all jurors are following the jury instruction."

Jurors are not required to follow the judge's instructions, (which are often borderline criminal themselves). A juror has a right under common law to dispense with the law itself and is not required to rule accordingly.

[prairiebreeze]

Yep..

[DCBryan1]

Charges, possible sentence:

Count one: identity theft
Maximum 5 years in prison
$250,000 fine
3 years supervised release

Count two: wire fraud
Maximum 20 years in prison
$250,000 fine
5 years supervised release

Count three: unlawful computer access
Maximum 5 years in prison
$250,000 fine
3 years supervised release

Lesser included misdemeanor offense on count 3 carries a maximum of 1 year in prison

Count four: obstruction of justice
Maximum 20 years in prison
$250,000 fine
5 years supervised release

Methinks David Kernells (D-RAT) is going to have a sore bottom this summer.

[Parley Baer]

“Some of us feel not all jurors are following the jury instruction.”

Politics over justice once again.

[avacado]

In their written communication to the judge this afternoon, the jurors said: "Some of us feel not all jurors are following the jury instruction."

My Libtard-Radar just went off. But the good news is that it seems they did convict the guy on 3 counts so far and libtards are holding up the other charge. Bet he gets at least 5 years in prison!

[DCBryan1]

I know he will walk.....

Gawd I hope not...he will become a cause celebre among the hate-america first crowd, and the 2012 election will be VERY VERY crooked with all sorts of illegal crap being done to Republicans....and DOJ will look away at the (illegal) behavior.

[P-Marlowe]

But they also reported they are deadlocked on the first count, a charge of identity theft.

That one was a stretch anyway. He didn't steal anyone's identity, just their passwords and then he hijacked the account.

The fact that they are deadlocked on that count suggests they are going to find him guilty on the other three.

[Beaten Valve]

Are all of those charges felonies?

[Sarah Barracuda]

He deserves 5 years, 10 at least..I bet there is at least 1 lib in the jury..its taking WAY too long..how hard is it, the guy wasn’t pulling a prank, he did this to HURT Sarah, to damage her, to put her life in danger. If this had been done to Obama, or Michelle, he would have been hung a long time ago. A prank is ordering 10 pizzas and having them delivered to her house, or calling her house a bunch of times saying how she’s hot, not putting all of her friends and families emails all over the Internet so every single idiot out there could threaten her family. What’s so damn hard, he ADMITTED it for God’s sake

[DCBryan1]

Are all of those charges felonies?

Anytime you see over 365+1 days in jail, you can almost always assume its a state felony. Since this is federal, I would gurantee, all felony charges.

Hope this little prick gets 20 years as a message to all other little demoncrat, criminal hackers to not to try to "Dan Rather" a Presidential/VP election.

[P-Marlowe]

Politics over justice once again.

Not necessarily. Jury instructions themselves are often "politics over justice". I personally would not bother with any jury instructions. I'd look at the charges and then the evidence. To hell with the judge's interpretation of what my job as a juror is and whether I'm supposed to follow some rules made up that have no force of effect of law.

Jurors often don't know that they are not bound by the instructions. They are free to make whatever decision they can live with for whatever reason they choose to do so.

[Lurker]

Some of us feel not all jurors are following the jury instruction."

"Bush should be on trial, not this kid." I'll bet you a dollar.

[Tijeras_Slim]

They’ve reached a verdict, no guarantee it’s guilty.