Hacker to plead guilty in NASA case

LONDON, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Lawyers for an alleged British hacker say he plans to plead guilty to breaking into U.S. computer systems owned by NASA and the Pentagon.

By pleading guilty in Britain, Gary McKinnon, 42, could avoid extradition to the United States, The Daily Telegraph reported Monday.

McKinnon, an unemployed systems analyst, is to plead guilty under the Misuse of Computers Act, said his lawyer, Karen Todd.

McKinnon allegedly admitted he broke into 97 computer systems belonging to NASA and the U.S. Army and Navy, the Telegraph reported.

McKinnon said he merely was curious and gained access because of lax security while U.S. prosecutors said he stole passwords and deleted files. McKinnon would face up to 70 years in prison if found guilty in the United States, the Telegraph reported.

McKinnon, who has a form of autism known as Asperger's syndrome, has won support from Britain's National Autistic Society and more than 80 members of Parliament in his bid to avoid prosecution in the United States.