Man faces felony charges for reading wife's e-mail

[White Israelite]

Man faces charges for reading wife's e-mail


updated 12/27/2010 2:13:39 PM ET

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. — A Michigan man who says he learned of his wife's affair by reading her e-mail on their computer faces trial Feb. 7 on felony computer misuse charges.
Thirty-three-year-old Leon Walker used his wife's password to get into her Gmail account. Clara Walker filed for a divorce, which was granted this month.
Leon Walker tells The Oakland Press of Pontiac he was trying to protect the couple's children from neglect and calls the case a "miscarriage of justice."
Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Sydney Turner says the charge is justified.
Privacy law writer Frederick Lane tells the Detroit Free Press the law typically is used to prosecute identity theft and stealing trade secrets. He says he questions if a wife can expect privacy on a computer she shares with her husband.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40820892/ns/technology_and_science-security/?gt1=43001

Shouldn't the adultery be more of a concern than reading the email?

[Maimonides]

Man faces charges for reading wife's e-mail


updated 12/27/2010 2:13:39 PM ET

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. — A Michigan man who says he learned of his wife's affair by reading her e-mail on their computer faces trial Feb. 7 on felony computer misuse charges.
Thirty-three-year-old Leon Walker used his wife's password to get into her Gmail account. Clara Walker filed for a divorce, which was granted this month.
Leon Walker tells The Oakland Press of Pontiac he was trying to protect the couple's children from neglect and calls the case a "miscarriage of justice."
Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Sydney Turner says the charge is justified.
Privacy law writer Frederick Lane tells the Detroit Free Press the law typically is used to prosecute identity theft and stealing trade secrets. He says he questions if a wife can expect privacy on a computer she shares with her husband.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40820892/ns/technology_and_science-security/?gt1=43001

Shouldn't the adultery be more of a concern than reading the email?

If the genders were reversed in this situation then there never would be charges brought against the wife.

[muman613]

Man faces charges for reading wife's e-mail


updated 12/27/2010 2:13:39 PM ET

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. — A Michigan man who says he learned of his wife's affair by reading her e-mail on their computer faces trial Feb. 7 on felony computer misuse charges.
Thirty-three-year-old Leon Walker used his wife's password to get into her Gmail account. Clara Walker filed for a divorce, which was granted this month.
Leon Walker tells The Oakland Press of Pontiac he was trying to protect the couple's children from neglect and calls the case a "miscarriage of justice."
Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Sydney Turner says the charge is justified.
Privacy law writer Frederick Lane tells the Detroit Free Press the law typically is used to prosecute identity theft and stealing trade secrets. He says he questions if a wife can expect privacy on a computer she shares with her husband.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40820892/ns/technology_and_science-security/?gt1=43001

Shouldn't the adultery be more of a concern than reading the email?

If the genders were reversed in this situation then there never would be charges brought against the wife.

Indeed... Justice is indeed perverted today... This woman should be ashamed of her infidelity and instead she is attacking her ex spouse.

[Rubystars]

I think the adultery is way worse than what he did.

[Ari Ben-Canaan]

How did he have the password?

My take...

If she gave it to him freely it is reasonable expectation that he is free to use the account.

If she has Firefox remember the password for her on a mutually owned computer it is reasonable expectation for him to freely use the account [its his computer!  and the date on it belongs to him (as well as her)].

If she has left her email open on the computer and forgot to log out... its a pretty weak case still.  "He said, she said" at best.  Ownership of the computer also should factor in.

[Raulmarrio2000]

In fact, adultery is morally much more serious than just reading a mail. But the reason why many legislations make it a felony to read the mails of others, even if it is for a good purpose, is that, if it were perrmitted, someone could really unduly  know and reveal sensitive secrets. Imagine if I go to a doctor's, layer or accountant, and his spouse reads my data. When sued, he could just defend himself by saying that he only intended to discover a possible adultery.

[Lewinsky Stinks, Dr. Brennan Rocks]

I have a hard time believing this would stand up on appeal, but anything is possible in a legal system that put Jonathan Pollard on death row for a lot less and that says that sodomy and baby-murder are constitutional civil rights.

[angryChineseKahanist]

I have to agree she commited adult.
That is disgusting to open your legs to another man after having children.
And SHE files devorce?
Have we forgotten about the children?
Mommie's a slut.

If they were muslims, she would have had her legs ripped apart and her eyes gauged.