Student accused of accessing Palin e-mails

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., March 9 (UPI) -- A University of Tennessee student allegedly accessed Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's personal e-mail account and destroyed related evidence, prosecutors say.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Weddle alleges Tennessee student David C. Kernell attempted to destroy evidence that he illegally accessed the online message system used by the former Republican vice presidential candidate, the Memphis Commercial Appeal said Monday.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Clifford Shirley, who presided over Kernell's arraignment Monday, pushed back the student's trial to Oct. 27 in response to three new charges filed by Weddle.

Kernell stands accused in the four-count indictment of accessing Palin's e-mail system and posting her access password online for the general public.

At least one other person later used the posted password to also access Palin's account, authorities allege.

The Commercial Appeal said Kernell is the son of Tennessee State Rep. Mike Kernell, a Democrat.