Broadside: George Mason University's Student Newspaper
VOLUME XXXIV THURSDAY

By Huma Zaidi Broadside Correspondent

Christopher Colby, 36, goes on trial tommorow at the Fairfax County Courthouse. Colby, a campus employee is charged with two ass-one misdemeanor counts of willfully using a computer network with the intent to obtain a computer service without authorization, for computer fraud.

According to GMU police investigator M. Bowman, who is charge of the case, Corby used false e-mail accounts to send mes- sages to students throughout GMU. Corby is currently under suspension without pay pending the outcome of the trial. He faces up to 12 months in prison, a $2500 fine, or both.

Bowman, with the help of the University Computer and Internet Services, traced the messages to a computer in Corby's office. Corby sent the messages through his office computer and a computer in the adjacent room, Bowman said. According to Bowman, Corby was the first suspected of sending messages through false e-mail accounts after a campus employee received an email message accusing another campus employee of physi- cally abusing a child at a camp spon- sored by GMU over the summer.

Corby used the account "llaberge" to send the message. Bowman contacted the owner of the account, "llaberge" and found that "llaberge" is a former student of GMU and lives in North Carolina.

Corby, after further investigation of the accounts, was contact- ed. According to Bowman, after seeing the evidence against him, Corby admitted to "sending and creating the false accounts." Corby initially denied the accusations.

Corby, also used the account "llsulliv2." Police also contacted the owner of the account. The owner, who took one class at GMU via satellite, is currently a local school teacher. She has never applied for an e-mail.

According to Bowman, both "llaberge" and "Isulliv2" have known Corby in some eapacity. "klkaberge" was a student and a campus employee who knew Corby for a short while. "llsulliv2" was the roommate of Corby's ex- girlfriend.

According to police records, Corby has also used the account "LeslieAnn @ aol .com." Students who have received e-mail from either of the three accounts or has any information are asked to contact Bowman of the GMU police department at 993-3281.