Tony Trout Trial Gets April Start Date

Former Greenville County councilman Tony Trout will go on trial in April for federal crimes that included the use of computers.

Jury selection is scheduled to start April 8 with the trial set to begin on April 20 according to federal court documents.

Harold Anthony “Tony” Trout was arrested on five counts on October 1, 2008 on allegations he used an electronic computer monitoring device to intercept communications from a computer owned by the County of Greenville that was being used by County Administrator Joe Kernell.

The U.S. Attorney's Office also says Trout used this information to unlawfully access private email accounts maintained by Kernell.

The indictment alleges that Trout then took these private emails and posted them on his personal website. The U.S. Attorney also says a federal search warrant was executed at trout's home in Greer and that the former councilman destroyed records relating to the spy monitoring device.

U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins says the FBI aided their investigation.

Here's a list of the counts against Trout as released by the U.S. Attorney on October 1, 2008:

Count 1 – unlawfully accessing a computer used in interstate communication and obtaining information in furtherance of another criminal act, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1030(a)(2)(C). Maximum Penalty: Imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of up to $250,000, Supervised Release for up to 3 years, and a Special Assessment of $100.

Count 2 – unlawfully accessing a computer used in interstate communication
and obtaining information, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1030(a)(2)(C). Maximum Penalty: Imprisonment for up to 1 year, a fine of up to $1000,000, Supervised Release for up to 1 years, and a Special Assessment of $25.

Count 3 – destroying records with intent to obstruct a federal investigation, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1519. Maximum Penalty: Imprisonment for up to 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, Supervised Release for up to 3 years, and a Special Assessment of $100.

Count 4 – intentionally intercepting electronic communications, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2511(1)(a). Maximum Penalty: Imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of up to $250,000, Supervised Release for up to 3 years, and a Special Assessment of $100.

Count 5 – disclosing electronic communications knowing that they were unlawfully intercepted, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2511(1)(c). Maximum Penalty: Imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of up to $250,000, Supervised Release for up to 3 years, and a Special Assessment of $100.

Reporting by Kristen Nastasia

Here are some previous stories

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Tony Trout Confronts Greenville County Council Members

Tony Trout Files Civil Complaint Against Councilmember

Voice of the Voter: Baldwin Hooks Trout in Runoff

Federal Agents Seize Computers From Councilman’s Home