hp chairwoman turns herself in
HP Ex-Chair Dunn Surrenders on Spy Charges
SAN
JOSE (Oct. 06) – Former Hewlett-Packard Co. Chairman Patricia Dunn
surrendered at a Silicon Valley courthouse on Thursday afternoon on
felony charges for spying on reporters and company directors.Superior
Court Judge Alfonso Fernandez released Dunn, who is due to start
treatment for ovarian cancer on Friday, on her own recognizance after a
three-minute hearing.Dunn sat quietly in the courtroom after arriving
about 20 minutes early, speaking a single word, “Yes,” when asked if
she agreed to return for arraignment on Nov. 17.Her surrender and
appearance in front of the judge is the latest development in a
boardroom leak scandal that has tarnished the reputation of a company
that has previously championed privacy and aspired to a code that its
founders called the “HP Way.”in HP’s probes, investigators impersonated
company board members, employees and journalists to get their private
telephone records.Dunn, who resigned last month and appeared last week
before Congress to testify about the investigation, has said she
regrets the way the probe was handled, but does not accept personal
responsibility for any deceptive tactics used.California Attorney
General Bill Lockyer filed charges on Wednesday against Dunn and four
other defendants because of tactics used in HP’s effort in 2005 and
2006 to find the source of leaks to the media.Dunn’s attorney, Jim
Brosnahan, has said that “these charges are being brought against the
wrong person at the wrong time and for the wrong reasons” and that they
were false”They are the culmination of a well-financed and highly
orchestrated disinformation campaign,” he said.All five defendants
named face four felony charges: conspiracy; fraudulent use of wire,
radio or television transmissions; taking, copying and using computer
data; and using personal identifying information without authorization.
Each count could bring a maximum of three years in prison.Also charged
are former HP ethics officer Kevin Hunsaker and investigators Bryan
Wagner, Ronald Delia and Matthew DePante of information supplier Action
Research Group.Hunsaker’s attorney, Michael Pancer, said in a statement
that his client was not guilty. “Neither Kevin Hunsaker nor HP ever
authorized, encouraged, or knew of any unlawful activity,” he
said.Hunsaker had declined to speak to Congress, invoking his right not
to testify for fear of incriminating himself.Delia also has said he is
innocent and also chose not to testify.The scandal around the hunt for
a boardroom leak that resorted to identity theft has rocked the Silicon
Valley icon, but Lockyer has said there currently was no evidence of
criminal conduct by Chief Executive Mark Hurd.