Local News in Brief : Hacker Indicted on Phone Charge
Computer hacker Kevin Mitnick, imprisoned on suspicion of gaining illegal access to at least two computer systems, has been indicted on a new charge of trafficking in long-distance telephone codes.
A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Mitnick, 25, of Panorama City, adding the charge that he illegally possessed 16 long-distance codes belonging to MCI Telecommunications Corp. when he was arrested on Dec. 9 in Calabasas.
Mitnick, who pleaded not guilty to the new accusations Friday, is being held without bail and his telephone calls from prison are closely monitored at the request of prosecutors, who argued he can use telephones to cause extensive damage to computer systems.
Mitnick allegedly used the MCI codes to gain illegal access to the Leeds University computer system in England on Dec. 8, making his calls at no charge by disguising the use of the long-distance codes. Mitnick also allegedly broke into the computer system of Massachusetts-based Digital Equipment Corp.
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