Jailed computer tech gives mayor codes

SAN FRANCISCO, July 23 (UPI) -- A computer engineer who allegedly blocked the city of San Francisco out of its own computer system has given the mayor the access codes, officials say.

Terry Childs, the jailed computer technician gave Mayor Gavin Newsom passwords and access codes during a secret jailhouse meeting, KTVU-TV, San Francisco reported Wednesday.

Prosecutors say Childs, 43, deliberately blocked access to parts of the city's computer network for everyone but himself.

His attorney, who set up the meeting with Newsom, denies Childs did anything illegal and that his client only wanted to lock out co-workers who were trying to damage the city system, which contains city payroll and police data.

Childs has pleaded not guilty to four felony counts of computer network tampering and one count of causing losses of more than $200,000 resulting from the tampering.

If convicted, Childs faces up to seven years in prison, the station reported.