Hollywood hacker jailed for 10 years

[atomic sunburn]

December 18, 2012 - 10:36AM

A US federal judge on Monday sentenced a man who hacked into the personal online accounts of Scarlett Johansson, Mila Kunis, Christina Aguilera and other women to 10 years in prison.

US District Judge S. James Otero sentenced Christopher Chaney in Los Angeles after hearing from a tearful Johansson in a videotaped statement.

The biggest spectacle in the case was the revelation that nude photos taken by Johansson herself and meant for her then-husband Ryan Reynolds were placed on the internet.

Chaney, 35, of Jacksonville, Florida, pleaded guilty to counts that included wiretapping and unauthorised access to a computer.

Chaney also targeted two women he knew, sending nude pictures of one former co-worker to her father.

The women, who both knew Chaney, said their lives have been irreparably damaged by his actions. One has anxiety and panic attacks; the other is depressed and paranoid. Both say Chaney was calculated, cruel and creepy.

Their accounts as cybervictims serve as a cautionary tale for those, even major celebrities, who snap personal, and sometimes revealing photos.

Christina Aguilera said in a statement issued days before the sentencing that although she knows that she's often in the limelight, Chaney took from her some of the private moments she shares with friends.

"That feeling of security can never be given back and there is no compensation that can restore the feeling one has from such a large invasion of privacy," Aguilera said.

Prosecutors said Chaney illegally accessed the email accounts of more than 50 people in the entertainment industry between November 2010 and October 2011. Aguilera, Kunis and Johansson agreed to have their identities made public with the hopes that the exposure about the case would provide awareness about online intrusion.

Some of Aguilera's photos appeared online after Chaney sent an email from the account of her stylist, Simone Harouche, to Aguilera asking the singer for scantily clad photographs, prosecutors said.

Chaney was arrested in October 2011 as part of a yearlong investigation of celebrity hacking that authorities dubbed "Operation Hackerazzi". Chaney's computer hard drive contained numerous private celebrity photos and a document that compiled their extensive personal data, according to a search warrant.

The Associated Press

[bbenson67]

The guy is obviously mentally ill. He continued to cyber stalk them even after he was exposed. I'm not sure if prison is the right place for him. Society would be better served if he was in a mental institution. I'm no bleeding heart but this is a waste of taxpayer money to put him in a general prison.

He should of cried assburgers syndrome, he would of got away with anything.

[atomic sunburn]

Originally Posted by bbenson67

The guy is obviously mentally ill. He continued to cyber stalk them even after he was exposed. I'm not sure if prison is the right place for him. Society would be better served if he was in a mental institution. I'm no bleeding heart but this is a waste of taxpayer money to put him in a general prison.

The general prison would be cheaper than an institution and on a high profile case like this the right wing press would scream murder if he got any thing less.

[RedFox]

He should of at least got some better pictures out for 10 years, surely she and her ex had their own amateur porn collection.

[firekind]

So now he's a crook. Should only be a matter of time before he gets a job in government or as a banker.

[apeyboy]

Sick. There should be raised a statue of this man. He gave us this ffs:

[brokensaphire]

10 Years! I'm scared! Nobody will ever share anything anymore after this including ME.....I promise!!

And as the esteemed Comedian Adam Carolla stated:
23 million gallons of semen were let shortly after these pix hit the 'net.

[firekind]

Any wonder Ryan Reynolds kicked her out if this is as explicit as she can get.

[nduktu]

what is it with that extreme harsh cyber crime prosecution in the US ? 10 years ? If he had raped Scarlett
or Mila he would have gotten 6-8 years max. of course it is possible that you get a life sentence if severe violence is involved but nowadays according to statistics the average time served for rape is 5.1 years (not that I would encourage rape)