Charged with illegal download of JSTOR database
Swartz is charged by U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts with wire fraud, computer fraud, unlawfully obtaining information from a protected computer, and recklessly damaging a protected computer, in relation to downloading 4.8 million articles worth $1.5 million dollars and other documents — nearly the entire library — of JSTOR, a nonprofit online service for distributing scholarly articles online. Swartz faces up to 35 years in prison and $1 million in fines. United States attorney, Carmen M. Ortiz, said:
Stealing is stealing, whether you use a computer command or a crowbar, and whether you take documents, data or dollars. It is equally harmful to the victim whether you sell what you have stolen or give it away.
According to the indictment, in September of 2010, Swartz used several methods to grab articles, including using a program called keepgrabbing.py and breaking into a computer-wiring closet on the M.I.T. campus and setting up a laptop with a false identity on the school network for free JSTOR access under the name Gary Host — or when shortened for the e-mail address, “ghost.”
Swartz is accused of repeatedly spoofing the MAC address — an identifier that is usually static — of his computer after MIT blocked his computer based on that number. The grand jury indictment also notes that Swartz didn’t provide a real e-mail address when registering on the network.
When retrieving the computer, he hid his face behind a bicycle helmet, peeking out through the ventilation holes. The flood of downloads was so great that it crashed some JSTOR servers, the indictment stated, and JSTOR blocked access to the network from M.I.T. and its users for several days.
Swartz returned the hard drives containing the articles to JSTOR and promised that the material would not be disseminated. JSTOR did not pursue charges but referred the case to the United States Attorney’s Office. Swartz surrenders to authorities the same day, pleading not guilty on all accounts, and is released on $100,000 bail.
Refuses to defend gay law
Walker asks a judge to allow the state to stop defending a lawsuit brought by Wisconsin Family Action against a 2009 law that allows same-sex couples to form domestic partnerships so they may have some of the rights of married couples. Wisconsin Family action asserts that the 2009 law violates a 2006 amendment to the state constitution banning same-sex marriage or any similar arrangement. Walker’s chief counsel:
Governor Walker, in deference to the legal opinion of the attorney general that the domestic partner registry…is unconstitutional, does not believe the public interest requires a continued defense of this law.
Three years probation on terror-related charge
Simpson is sentenced to three years of probation. The FBI had claimed that Simpson was traveling to Somalia to engage in “violent jihad.” with the al-Shabaab terror group. After electing to trial by judge rather than jury, Judge Mary H. Murguia finds there isn’t enough evidence to support the FBI’s claim that the travel was related to terrorism. However he is convicted on the lesser charge of making a false statement.
Swartz arrested at MIT
After investigators at MIT began to suspect that someone is illegally downloading material from the JSTOR archive they trace the leak to a basement wiring closet where they find a laptop and external hard drive hooked up directly to a network. The laptop and the hard drive are hidden from view by a cardboard box. Secret Service Agent Michael places a surveillance camera in the closet. The surveillance images show Swartz entering the closet three days in a row. Using his white bicylce helmet as a mask, Swartz attempts to cover his face from the cameras as he tries to retrieve the computer equipment that he left their weeks before. On January 6th an officer sees Swartz attempt to leave MIT property with the laptop and hard drive. At 2:11 p.m. Swartz is ID’d on a bicycle on Massachusetts Avenue by an MIT police officer, according to his own report. That report states that when he encounters Captain Albert Pierce of the MIT Police Department, Swartz jumps off his bike and runs down Lee Street. He runs approximately 400 feet before being handcuffed and charged with breaking and entering.
Sues Arrington
Calacanis sues Arrington, claiming that he contributed to creating TechCrunch 50, which he says was rebranded as TechCrunch Disrupt, but that he was never paid for the sale of the brand to AOL.
Fined $100,000
The NBA fines Cuban for violating the league’s anti-tampering rules with comments made in an interview with CNNMONEY.com about recruiting LeBron James to the Mavericks. Cuban is punished for failing to adhere to the details of a 2008 memo sent to all 30 NBA teams:
If a member of your organization is asked by the media about a potential free agent prior to the July 1 following the last season covered by the player’s contract, or about any other person under contract with another NBA team, the only proper response is to decline comment.
Gets community service
West and road manager, Don Crowley, must complete 50 hours of community service for the American Red Cross in exchange for the dismissal of charges stemming from the paparazzi Los Angeles airport camera attack. West’s lawyer, Blair Berk:
I am very pleased the court granted dismissal of all charges.
Arrested on assault charge
Pistorius is arrested for allegedly slamming a door on a woman at a party at his home. His family and friends say it was an accident.
ICC charges with war crimes
The ICC upholds the request of the chief prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo, to charge Bashir with war crimes and crimes against humanity. Moreno-Campo claimed 35,000 violent deaths were caused by Bashir’s government arming, training, and financing bands of Arab nomads to attack villages across Darfur, killing, raping and looting as they went. The army provided air and ground support. He also alleged Bashir committed genocide by trying to eliminate the Fur, Marsalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups, whom Bashir deemed supportive of the rebels. Moreno-Campo:
More than 30 witnesses will [testify] how he [Bashir] managed to control everything, and we have strong evidence of his intention.
While the judges dismiss the genocide charge, they indict Bashir on five counts of crimes against humanity: murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture and rape. The two counts of war crimes are for directing attacks on the civilian population and pillaging. Bashir is the first national leader to be charged by the court. All states would be asked to execute the arrest warrant and if Sudan fails to cooperate the matter will be referred to the UN security council.
Sudan does not recognise the ICC, and Bashir says the court can “eat” the arrest warrant, which he describes as a western plot to hinder Sudan’s development. A Bashir aide describes the charges as:
neo-colonialism … They do not want Sudan to become stable.
Arrested on return to France
Karpeles is arrested by BEFTI (Brigade Investigation of Fraud in Information Technology) after allegations that he stole his employers’ data. He describes the BEFTI officers as “barbaric”, commenting that the arrest was “like no other”. After 13 hours in jail and a search of the servers, Palm Pilot, and other home computers, he was released after making a statement.
Arrested
Balfour is arrested for the killings of Hudson’s mother, brother, and nephew. He is sent to Illinois state prison for first degree murder.
Auto accident, alleged DUI
LaBeouf is involved in a car accident where law enforcement sources say he made a left turn in front of another car, causing the two to collide and LaBeouf’s car to roll. Paramedics arrived on the scene and both parties were taking to the hospital. No major injuries were reported but the actor’s left hand was crushed and required reconstruction surgery. The actor was placed under arrest on suspicion of felony DUI after exhibiting outward signs of intoxication at the scene.
Threatens daughter, famly
Houser’s wife, Kellie Maddox, files a protective order against him saying Houser had threatened her and her daughter, over the daughter’s impending marriage. The order which was at least temporarily granted, says that Kellie had:
become so worried about the defendant’s volatile mental state that she … removed all guns and/or weapons from their marital residence. [Houser] exhibited extreme erratic behavior [and] made ominous as well as disturbing statements
The papers also say Houser has:
a history of mental health issues, i.e., manic depression and/or bi-polar disorder.
Houser’s daughter joined the filing, saying that Houser had traveled from Phenix City, Ala., to where she lived in Carroll County, Ga., and:
perpetrated various acts of family violence.
The order is lifted May 8.
Lead paint lawsuit
Gray and his siblings file a lead-poisoning lawsuit against the property owner of the house they lived in on North Carey Street from 1992-1997. Gray lived in the front room with his mother. Court records show that in May of 1990, when the family was living in a home on Fulton Avenue in West Baltimore, Gray’s blood contained more than 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood — double the level at which the Center for Disease Control urges additional testing. Three months later, his blood had nearly 30 micrograms. In June 1991, when Gray was 22 months old, his blood carried 37 micrograms. It is believed that anything higher than five micrograms can cripple a child’s cognitive development. From Gray’s deposition:
There was a big hole when you go up the steps. There was a couple of walls that wasn’t painted all the way, peeled. . . . And like the windows, paint was peeling off the windows.
The suit results in an undisclosed settlement in 2010.
Arrested at Walgreens
Police arrest LaBeouf in downtown Chicago for supposedly refusing to leave a Walgreens under the belief that the actor was intoxicated. The security guard who summoned police, signed a complaint against the actor, who is later charged with misdemeanor count for trespassing. His court date is November 28th.
Felony for killing bear
Palmer is part of a group of people who kill a black bear in Wisconsin, 40 miles outside area allowed in their permit. He is fined $3,000 and given a year’s probation after pleading guilty.
Drunk driving charge
The actor is charged with misdemeanor drunken driving, driving with an elevated blood alcohol level and possession of an open container of alcohol in his car. Gibson’s publicist, Alan Nierob, says that he has no comment.
Rape acquittal
Zuma is acquitted of raping a 31-year-old family friend on 2 November 2005. In a four-hour ruling broadcast live on radio and television, the judge says the state had not proven the case beyond reasonable doubt. He also refers to evidence given by the defence, suggesting that the complainant has a history of making false accusations of rape.
The complainant was inclined to accuse men of raping her or attempting to rape her
Zuma admitted having had sex with the woman, but insisted it was consensual. The judge says Zuma would not have risked forcing himself on the woman when his own daughter was in the house and police were on guard outside, who would have heard the accused if she had cried out. After the judgement, Zuma addresses a crowd in nearby Beyers Naude Square:
A person who is charged remains innocent until proven otherwise – this is one of the golden rules of our constitution but the press broke this rule. Today the bad dreams have evaporated.
Loses Howard University appeal
Dolezal loses her appeal against Howard University. The judges confirm the original trial’s decision.
To defeat summary judgment on her discrimination claims, Moore was required to present a prima facie case “that (1) she belongs to a protected class (2) she is qualified for the employment position at issue (3) she was the subject of an adverse employment decision and (4) race was a substantial factor in the adverse action. As we now explain, Moore failed to make the requisite showing of either the third or fourth element in respect to all of her claims.
The court says her Art Professor did not hear that she wanted the position until after he had allotted the teaching assistant jobs. This meant that race was not a factor in the employment decision. She also did not make a case showing she experienced an adverse employment action in being denied the assistantship for one semester. While she did not work the fourth semester, she was actually paid for four semesters. She presented no evidence that any prospective employer chose not to hire her because she taught three rather than four semesters. On the removal of her artworks from a 2001 exhibition, allegedly in favor of those of African-American students, the court ruled that the claim is barred by a one year statute of limitations, and that she offered no proof of a hostile work environment.
Advisor found guilty
Shaik, a financial adviser to Zuma is found guilty on two accounts of corruption and one of fraud. He remains free on bail. The judge compares corruption to a cancer subverting democracy and human rights and rejects the defence lawyer’s plea for clemency because Shaik had fought apartheid.
His corporate empire’s progress and prosperity was plainly linked to the possibility that Jacob Zuma would finally ascend to the highest political office…Far from carrying out the object of [South Africa’s liberation] struggle, this whole saga represents a subversion of it…It was a typical example of a privileged treatment to a selected political figure in a situation redolent with lack of transparency and subversive of administrative fairness and integrity. And that is what the law seeks to punish.