KNOXVILLE – A federal judge declined to throw out convictions against a former University of Tennessee student for hacking Sarah Palin’s e-mail account during the 2008 presidential election.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Phillips issued the ruling Thursday, but The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that the defense attorney for David C. Kernell is appealing the case to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Kernell was found guilty in federal court in April of obstruction of justice and unauthorized access to a computer, but acquitted of a wire fraud charge. Kernell’s attorney contended the hacking was a prank.
The former Alaska governor and her daughter, Bristol, testified the hacking caused emotional hardships for their family.
Kernell is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 29 and he could face 15 to 21 months in prison.