The college student son of a Democratic State Representative from Tennessee has been convicted for hacking into former Governor Sarah Palin’s email account.

David Kernell, a supporter of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and the son of State Rep. Mike Kernell (D), was indicted in October 2008 for hacking into Palin’s personal email account. A federal jury has convicted him on two counts.

A federal jury has convicted a former Tennessee college student of two charges in the hacking of Sarah Palin’s e-mail account.

The jury convicted 22-year-old David Kernell of unauthorized access to a computer and obstruction of justice. He was found not guilty of wire fraud and the jury failed to reach a verdict on identity theft.

Kernell was charged with breaking into Palin’s e-mail while she was the Republican vice presidential candidate in 2008.

Defense attorney Wade Davies has said it was a prank, but prosecutors claimed he was trying to damage Palin’s campaign.

The conviction for obstructing an investigation can carry a maximum 20-year prison sentence.

Like Jim Hoft, I’m a bit confused with the verdict on identity theft. Kernell hacked into Palin’s email account, took her private correspondence, and then changed her password to deny her access. But oh well, the little crap is facing 20 years in prison.

Via Hot Air Headlines.