In October 2008, David Kernell was indicted in federal court in the Eastern District of Tennessee. The grand jury charged him with gaining unauthorized access to the personal e-mail account of Alaska Governor Sara Palin, changing the password to the account, and making screenshots of e-mails and personal information found in the account, including e-mail addresses of family members, pictures, a cell phone number, and Governor Palin’s Yahoo address book. The indictment also alleges that Kernell posted the new password and screenshots to a public website, giving the public access to the account. Kernell was charged under 18 U.S.C. § 2701 and 18 U.S.C. §1030(a)(2), for intentionally and without authorization accessing a protected computer by means of an interstate communication and thereby obtaining information.