http://www.freep.com/news/latestnews/pm2912_20010425.htm
BY LAURA POTTS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
April 25, 2001
A teen-ager accused of breaking into at least three NASA computer
systems has escaped with another teen from a juvenile facility near
Grand Rapids, Michigan State Police said.
In March, the 16-year-old from Grant pleaded guilty in family court to
one count of unauthorized access to computers after officials said he
broke into and altered NASA computers systems at the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.; the Goddard Space Flight Center in
Greenbelt, Md.; and the Energy Department system at Sandia National
Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M.
Stephen Nesbitt, who investigates computer break-ins at NASA's Office
of Inspector General in Washington, said the teen-ager never got
access to any sensitive information.
The teen, who had been housed at the STEP Program juvenile center in
Sand Lake, left the night of April 5 with another 16-year-old, said
Michigan State Police Sgt. Ron Nelson of the Newaygo Post.
The Grant boy's family reported it appeared he had stopped at their
home to take some clothes, but no one was home at the time. Nelson
said the boys' whereabouts are unknown, but state and local police are
investigating.
The boy was scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, but failed to show
up, Newaygo County prosecutors said. He has not been sentenced yet but
adults convicted of the felony charge can be given up to five years in
prison.
The teen-ager still is on probation after a similar conviction last
year while living with his father on Long Island, N.Y. The boy briefly
attended Grant schools as an eighth grader and moved back to the
community about six months ago.
While authorities said the teen didn't access sensitive information at
any of the sites, he created pathways, or "trap doors," that would
allow other hackers access.
The teen-ager displayed images on the sites related to a hacking group
called Electronic Souls.
Brian Martin of Attrition.org, which monitors Web security issues,
earlier said his site had recorded 32 defacements by Electronic Souls
since February. Members identifying themselves as part of the group
also defaced commercial sites, he said.
__
On the Net:
NASA, http://www.nasa.gov/
Attrition.org, http://www.attrition.org/
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Received on Thu Apr 26 02:49 CDT 2001