Tuesday, September 06, 2005

UT hacker sentenced to probation, must pay $170,000

Steven Kreytak writes in The Austin American-Statesman (obnoxious, but free, registration required -- or use BugMeNot.com):

The former University of Texas student who hacked into the school's computer system and downloaded thousands of Social Security numbers in 2002 and 2003 was sentenced today to five years probation and 500 hours of community service.

U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel also ordered Christopher Phillips, 22, to pay the school $170,000 in restitution.

As a condition of probation, Yeakel ordered that Phillips may not own software that would allow him to connect to the Internet and may only access the Internet for work or school-related reasons pre-approved by his probation officer.

Federal sentencing guidelines, which Yeakel was required to consult but not required to follow, called for a sentence of between 15 and 21 months in federal prison.

"It is my belief that this sentence is harsher than (prison)," Yeakel said.

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