Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!redsox!campbell
From: campbell@redsox.bsw.com (Larry Campbell)
Subject: Re: Was Bill Kennedy Really Out Of Line?
Message-ID: <1991Jun27.024135.495@redsox.bsw.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Jun 91 02:41:35 GMT
Reply-To: campbell@redsox.bsw.com (Larry Campbell)
References: <1991Jun26.132906.3116@sulaco.Lonestar.ORG>
Organization: The Boston Software Works, Inc.

In article <1991Jun26.132906.3116@sulaco.Lonestar.ORG> allen@sulaco.Lonestar.ORG (Allen Gwinn) writes:
-
-Was Len Rose arrested at a California airport for "receiving stolen
-merchandise"?
-
-Did Len Rose have stolen source code in his possession at the time
-of his arrest during a search?
-
-Was Len observed "cracking" his way into at least one system on several
-occasions, and didn't long-distance records provide evidence linking
-his phone number to several other "cracked" systems modem lines?
-
-If any of these allegations (and others that I may not have mentioned) are 
-true, doesn't this qualify Len as a common criminal?

In words of fewer than three syllables:  no.

Being "arrested...for receiving stolen merchandise" does not qualify one as
a criminal, common or uncommon.  Being *convicted* would.

Having "stolen source code in his possession" does not qualify one as a
criminal (unless one stole the code by climbing in through a window and
snatching a tape).  Copyright and trade secret violations are civil
offenses, not criminal.

Being "observed cracking" (by whom?) *might* qualify Len as a criminal,
depending on the state in which the offense allegedly occurred.

If, by some remarkable twist, Len Rose actually did *everything* he's been
accused of on this net, I think a year in jail might be appropriate.  I
suspect, however, that reality probably fails to live up to the colorful and
inciting stories we've been hearing on the net lately.

We now return you to our regular witchhunt, which is already in progress.
-- 
Larry Campbell             The Boston Software Works, Inc., 120 Fulton Street
campbell@redsox.bsw.com    Boston, Massachusetts 02109 (USA)
