CRIME & COURTS

The Palin email hacking trial of David Kernell

David Kernell, center, leaves the federal courthouse in Knoxville with his mother, Lt. Col. Lillian Landrigan, right, and attorney Wade Davies, left, after court was adjourned Monday, April 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
David Kernell, center, leaves the federal courthouse in Knoxville with his mother, Lt. Col. Lillian Landrigan, right, and attorney Wade Davies, left, after court was adjourned Monday, April 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Wade Payne, AP
Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin speaks to media outside the federal courthouse after court recessed for lunch Friday, April 23, 2010 in Knoxville, Tenn. Palin testified in the hacking case against David Kernell who was a University of Tennessee student majoring in economics when prosecutors say he hacked into the Yahoo! account Palin sometimes used for state business. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin speaks to media outside the federal courthouse after court recessed for lunch Friday, April 23, 2010 in Knoxville, Tenn. Palin testified in the hacking case against David Kernell who was a University of Tennessee student majoring in economics when prosecutors say he hacked into the Yahoo! account Palin sometimes used for state business. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Wade Payne, AP
Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin speaks to media outside the federal courthouse after court recessed for lunch Friday, April 23, 2010 in Knoxville, Tenn. Palin testified in the hacking case against David Kernell who was a University of Tennessee student majoring in economics when prosecutors say he hacked into the Yahoo! account Palin sometimes used for state business. Behind right is her husband, Todd Palin in the red tie.(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin speaks to media outside the federal courthouse after court recessed for lunch Friday, April 23, 2010 in Knoxville, Tenn. Palin testified in the hacking case against David Kernell who was a University of Tennessee student majoring in economics when prosecutors say he hacked into the Yahoo! account Palin sometimes used for state business. Behind right is her husband, Todd Palin in the red tie.(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Wade Payne, AP
FILE - In this April 22, 2010 file photo, David Kernell leaves the Federal Courthouse in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, file)
FILE - In this April 22, 2010 file photo, David Kernell leaves the Federal Courthouse in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, file)
Wade Payne, AP
Convicted e-mail hacker David Kernell, left, his mother Lillian Landrigan and defense attorney Wade Davies depart the Federal Courthouse after a sentencing hearing Friday, Nov. 12, 2010.
Convicted e-mail hacker David Kernell, left, his mother Lillian Landrigan and defense attorney Wade Davies depart the Federal Courthouse after a sentencing hearing Friday, Nov. 12, 2010.
J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel
David Kernell the former Tennessee college student convicted of hacking Sarah Palin's e-mail arrives at the Federal Court House in Knoxville for his sentencing hearing in 2010.
David Kernell the former Tennessee college student convicted of hacking Sarah Palin's e-mail arrives at the Federal Court House in Knoxville for his sentencing hearing in 2010.
J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel
David Kernell the former Tennessee college student convicted of hacking Sarah Palin's e-mail arrives at the Federal Court House in Knoxville for his sentencing hearing Friday morning in 2010.
David Kernell the former Tennessee college student convicted of hacking Sarah Palin's e-mail arrives at the Federal Court House in Knoxville for his sentencing hearing Friday morning in 2010.
J. Miles Cary, J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel
Assistant US Attorney Greg Weddle leaves court in Knoxville in April 2010. He was the prosecutor in the email hacking case of Sarah Palin.
Assistant US Attorney Greg Weddle leaves court in Knoxville in April 2010. He was the prosecutor in the email hacking case of Sarah Palin.
J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel
David Kernell, right with  his mother, Lt. Col Lillian Landrigan at his side and his defense attorney Wade Davies following leaves Federal Court in Knoxville on Friday afternoon, April 30, 2010.

The trial of David Christopher Kernell, a 22-year-old former University of Tennessee economics major and son of longtime Memphis state Rep. Mike Kernell,on federal charges of computer fraud, identity theft, aiding and abetting computer fraud, and obstruction of justice.
Authorities say, Kernell used publicly available information about former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to figure out the answer to a security question on her personal Yahoo! e-mail account, reset her password and used the new password to gain access to the account.
J. MILES CARY/NEWS SENTINEL
David Kernell, right with his mother, Lt. Col Lillian Landrigan at his side and his defense attorney Wade Davies following leaves Federal Court in Knoxville on Friday afternoon, April 30, 2010. The trial of David Christopher Kernell, a 22-year-old former University of Tennessee economics major and son of longtime Memphis state Rep. Mike Kernell,on federal charges of computer fraud, identity theft, aiding and abetting computer fraud, and obstruction of justice. Authorities say, Kernell used publicly available information about former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to figure out the answer to a security question on her personal Yahoo! e-mail account, reset her password and used the new password to gain access to the account. J. MILES CARY/NEWS SENTINEL
J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel
David Kernell, former University of Tennessee economics major convicted of hacking the email of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
David Kernell, former University of Tennessee economics major convicted of hacking the email of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel
David Kernell, right with  his mother, Lt. Col Lillian Landrigan at his side leaves the Federal Court House Friday afternoon,  April 30, 2010.

The trial of David Christopher Kernell, a 22-year-old former University of Tennessee economics major and son of longtime Memphis state Rep. Mike Kernell,on federal charges of computer fraud, identity theft, aiding and abetting computer fraud, and obstruction of justice.
Authorities say, Kernell used publicly available information about former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to figure out the answer to a security question on her personal Yahoo! e-mail account, reset her password and used the new password to gain access to the account.
J. MILES CARY/NEWS SENTINEL
David Kernell, right with his mother, Lt. Col Lillian Landrigan at his side leaves the Federal Court House Friday afternoon, April 30, 2010. The trial of David Christopher Kernell, a 22-year-old former University of Tennessee economics major and son of longtime Memphis state Rep. Mike Kernell,on federal charges of computer fraud, identity theft, aiding and abetting computer fraud, and obstruction of justice. Authorities say, Kernell used publicly available information about former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to figure out the answer to a security question on her personal Yahoo! e-mail account, reset her password and used the new password to gain access to the account. J. MILES CARY/NEWS SENTINEL
J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel
David Kernell, right with  his mother, Lt. Col Lillian Landrigan at his side leaves the Federal Court House Friday afternoon, April 30, 2010.

The trial of David Christopher Kernell, a 22-year-old former University of Tennessee economics major and son of longtime Memphis state Rep. Mike Kernell,on federal charges of computer fraud, identity theft, aiding and abetting computer fraud, and obstruction of justice.
Authorities say, Kernell used publicly available information about former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to figure out the answer to a security question on her personal Yahoo! e-mail account, reset her password and used the new password to gain access to the account.
J. MILES CARY/NEWS SENTINEL
David Kernell, right with his mother, Lt. Col Lillian Landrigan at his side leaves the Federal Court House Friday afternoon, April 30, 2010. The trial of David Christopher Kernell, a 22-year-old former University of Tennessee economics major and son of longtime Memphis state Rep. Mike Kernell,on federal charges of computer fraud, identity theft, aiding and abetting computer fraud, and obstruction of justice. Authorities say, Kernell used publicly available information about former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to figure out the answer to a security question on her personal Yahoo! e-mail account, reset her password and used the new password to gain access to the account. J. MILES CARY/NEWS SENTINEL
J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel
Media representatives wait for former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin after she testified in the trial of a former college student accused of hacking her e-mail account Friday, April 23, 2010 at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Courthouse. Prosecutors say David Kernell, 22, a former University of Tennessee economics major, illegally accessed her Yahoo! e-mail account during the 2008 presidential election.
Media representatives wait for former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin after she testified in the trial of a former college student accused of hacking her e-mail account Friday, April 23, 2010 at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Courthouse. Prosecutors say David Kernell, 22, a former University of Tennessee economics major, illegally accessed her Yahoo! e-mail account during the 2008 presidential election.
J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel
David Kernell and his mother, Lt. Col Lillian Landrigan, arrive for day four of his trial Friday, April 23, 2010 at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Courthouse. Prosecutors say Kernell, 22, a former University of Tennessee economics major, illegally accessed the Yahoo! e-mail account of former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin during the 2008 presidential election.
David Kernell and his mother, Lt. Col Lillian Landrigan, arrive for day four of his trial Friday, April 23, 2010 at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Courthouse. Prosecutors say Kernell, 22, a former University of Tennessee economics major, illegally accessed the Yahoo! e-mail account of former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin during the 2008 presidential election.
J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel