Teen Hacker Sentenced

A teenage hacker who crashed the King County Library’s computer system pleaded guilty Friday to one count of first-degree computer trespass and one count of first-degree malicious mischief.

Under the plea-bargaining agreement, the Highline High School senior will serve three months in jail, perform 200 hours of community service and pay $15,000 in restitution. Another three months of jail time was suspended.

The youth, now 18, was charged as a juvenile and will serve his jail time in the county’s juvenile facility. He will be released weekdays to attend school, but return to jail at night.

The youth was accused of knocking the library’s computer system out of service for five days in February, causing $64,751 in damages. The computer links the library’s 39 branches.