Crime / Sarah Palin Accused Palin Hacker Pleads Not Guilty David Kernell free for now but faces up to 5 years in prison By Sarah Quinn, Newser Staff Posted Oct 8, 2008 2:15 PM CDT Copied David Kernell, 20, leaves the federal courthouse in Knoxville, Tenn., Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008, with his attorney Wade Davies, right. (AP Photo/Lisa Norman-Hudson) A Tennessee college student has been indicted on charges of hacking into Sarah Palin's email account and posting private info online, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. David Kernell, the 20-year-old son of state Democratic Rep. Michael Kernell, pleaded not guilty. His trial is set for Dec. 16; he's free until then as long as he restricts his computer use to school work, doesn't leave Eastern Tennessee, and doesn't contact Palin. Kernell could get hit with 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. "Cyber crime is the FBI's top criminal investigative priority," an agent said. (More Sarah Palin stories.) Report an error