Anonymous hacking accused 'could face more time in prison than rapists exposed in video'

3 months ago

Deric Lostutter, an activist associated with the Anonymous group, has been charged with hacking after allegedly exposing those responsible for the rape of a girl in Steubenville, Ohio.

He faces up to 16 years in prison – more jail time than the convicted rapists – if he is found guilty of four counts of hacking, a felony charge.

Steubenville High School students Ma’lik Richmond and Trent Mays were handed minimum sentences, and were released in a short space of time – Richmond after one year, and Mays after two years – in juvenile detention.

Back in 2012, the two high school footballers sexually assaulted the girl, and the attack was shared on social media. Images of the 16-year-old girl being carried, undressed and sexually assaulted were posted online.

Lostutter told MIC: “They want to make an example out of me, for exposing a cover-up.”

Lostutter has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The US Computer Fraud and Abuse Act makes accessing “protected computers” a criminal offence to fight computer crime and identity theft, but has been criticised for its outdated approach towards the modern phenomenon of hacking.