Update: Former employee gets house arrest for e-mail snooping
November 26, 2008 by Fred HosierPosted in: Employees do the strangest things, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
Back in June, HRB told you about a Philadelphia TV news anchor who was suspended by the station and under investigation by the FBI for hacking into the private e-mail of his former co-anchor. The anchor was fired, arrested and charged with e-mail snooping. Now he’s received his sentence for the crime.
Former KYW-TV anchor Larry Mendte’s sentence consists of six months of electronically monitored house arrest, three years probation, 250 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine.
The judge also ordered Mendte to stay away from his former co-anchor, Alycia Lane, and continue psychological counseling. The court called for monitoring of his personal computer by federal authorities so he can’t install software or hardware that enable him to read another person’s e-mail.
Mendte hacked into Lane’s e-mails starting in March 2006 and continued to do so after Lane was fired by the station in January. Among the 500 e-mails Mendte read just this year were confidential ones with Lane’s lawyers.
Intercepting e-mail is a crime under the federal Wiretap Act. It’s no different than illegally tapping someone’s phone.
Did the punishment fit the crime in this case? Let us know in the Comments Box below.
November 29th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I am from Phila. and am familiar with this case. I think sentencing could have been a lot more severe. What this anchor did was to conduct a smear campaign against his former co-anchor that adversely affected her both professionally and emotionally. His behavior was quite malicious, especially when he would send information off to the local newspaper. When found out, he then made a public statement apologizing for his behavior but also indicating that they had an affair, which proved to be untrue. I’m sure a defamation lawsuit is forthcoming. This stupid behavior has not only ruined the career of his co-anchor but his own as well.