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| December 2, 2006 |
| Linkin Park's Hack Attack |
Here's a collision course Chester Bennington would rather avoid.
An avid fan of the Linkin Park singer has been arrested for illegally hacking Bennington's cell phone and calling and threatening his wife.
New Mexico's Albuquerque Journal reports that Devon Townsend used her job at the Sandia National Laboratories to gain access to a Verizon Wireless Website and obtain 30-year-old Bennington's private account information, including his cell phone number, phone bill and various other numbers he's called, as well as digital photos he snapped using the phone.
Per court documents, the New Mexico native also broke into the email of the rocker's missus, former Playboy Playmate Talinda Bennington, and made hostile phone calls to her, which prompted the Benningtons to file a report police last month claiming they were being stalked.
Investigators traced the phone calls back to Sandia's technology and manufacturing division, and Townsend was taken into custody on Saturday and booked on federal charges accusing her of using a laboratory computer to hack into a cell phone company's Website.
A subsequent search of her Albuquerque home turned up a trove of fan collectibles, including posters of the rap-metal outfit, pirated Linkin Park music, a picture of her with Bennington and autographed memorabilia, as well as personal messages and photos swiped from the couple's email account.
Officials say the evidence recovered against Townsend includes a copy of Bennington's 34-page Verizon bill containing a history of his phone usage, including calls to his Linkin Park bandmates and other celebrity pals. The lab worker was also able to download 78 digital pictures Bennington emailed friends, including shots of the rocker's children during a family trip to Japan that were for private use only.
After her arrest, investigators say Townsend admitted to her "online hacking activity" and to making two threatening phone calls anonymously to Talinda Bennington. According to the Benningtons' original police report, the caller said, "I know where you live...I watch your kids...I have complete control of your life."
Chester and Talinda married New Year's Eve 2005 and welcomed their first son, Tyler, in March. The performer also has another son, Draven, from a previous marriage.
A spokesman for Sandia said Townsend's computer access was restricted as soon as company officials found out about the incident, and she has since been fired.
"She's no longer employed," rep Michael Padilla told E! Online, adding that Townsend did not gain access to classified data and that the laboratory, which develops science-based technologies for national security purposes, was cooperating with law enforcement agents.
According to prosecutors, Townsend appeared in U.S. District Court last Tuesday, waived her right to a preliminary hearing and was released to her mother's custody.
A publicist for Linkin Park at Warner Bros. Music declined to comment; Townsend's attorney, Ray Twohig, was out of the office and did not immediately respond to messages.
However, the lawyer downplayed the incident to the Associated Press, saying authorities were still examining his client's computer to determine exactly what transgressions, if any, were committed.
"This is the Internet version of a groupie hiding in Mick Jagger's dressing room," Twohig said to the wire service. "We're in a different age, and fans have more skills than they used to."
Meanwhile, Bennington has been busy with Linkin Park. The band is working with veteran producer Rick Rubin on a new studio album.
In a December interview with Blender magazine, the Grammy winners said that the new offering, which has been given the mysterious Mad Libs-like title, T------- and T--------, veers away from their usual hard-rocking nu metal sound. It's expected to hit stores in 2007, after which Linkin Park has lined up a gig headlining the Bamboozle Festival May 5-6 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. |
posted by viraks @ 8:20:00 AM  |
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