WELCOME TO THE WATERFORD, CONNECTICUT BEST BUY. MY NAME IS JOE FROM THE GEEK SQUAD. HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
I need you to check my computer. It's been acting slow lately.
OK, I JUST NEED TO GET SOME INFORMATION FROM YOU AS I START UP THE COMPUTER. LAST NAME?
Regan. R-e-g-a-n.
GOT IT. FIRST NAME?
Michael.
OK, MICHAEL REGAN - AHH, HERE YOU ARE.
I'm in your system? But I've never visited Best Buy before.
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A RECORD FOR YOU.
Uh...you do?
YES. IT SAYS HERE THAT YOU'RE THE STATE'S ATTORNEY FOR THE JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF NEW LONDON.
Yes, that's me.
AND IT SAYS HERE THAT YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THE PROSECUTION AND CONVICTION OF JULIE AMERO.
Um, yes. But she was not convicted of felony charges, just a misdemeanor.
OH, YES. I READ RICK GREEN'S ARTICLE IN THE COURANT ABOUT THAT. LET'S SEE...
[L]ocal officials, police and state prosecutors were unwilling to admit that a mistake may have been made -- even after computer experts from around the country demonstrated that Amero's computer had been infected by "spyware."
New London County State's Attorney Michael Regan told me late Friday the state remained convinced Amero was guilty and was prepared to again go to trial.
"I have no regrets. Things took a course that was unplanned. Unfortunately the computer wasn't examined properly by the Norwich police," Regan said.
"For some reason this case caught the media's attention,'' Regan said.
SO, MR. REGAN, DID YOU SAY YOUR COMPUTER WAS RUNNING SLOWLY? PERHAPS WE'D BETTER TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
Um, sure. You know, it's an old computer.
WHAT OPERATING SYSTEM ARE YOU RUNNING?
Microsoft.
BOY, THIS *IS* AN OLD COMPUTER. WHEN DID YOU BUY IT?
Oh, around 1998 or so.
HMM, I SEE. MICHAEL, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A PERSONAL QUESTION. DO YOU USE PROTECTION?
Um-
ON YOUR COMPUTER?
Um, protection?
YEAH, SOME TYPE OF PROTECTION SOFTWARE, LIKE...UM...CHEYENNE OR SOMETHING?
Protection? But I don't need protection. As long as I stay away from porn sites, nothing can happen to this computer. Um, right?
OK, LET'S SEE. WELL, WE'LL START UP INTERNET EXPL...WHOOPS, I MEAN NETSCAPE. AH...UM HMMM....
What?
UH HUH....
What - what's wrong?
I SEE....
See what?
LET ME USE THE INTERCOM FOR A MOMENT - RICK, COULD YOU CALL THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY? THERE'S SOME FELONIOUS ACTIVITY ON THIS COMPUTER.
Felonious?
MR. REGAN, THERE IS FELONIOUS ACTIVITY HERE. I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE SOURCE CODE SHOWING ALL THE HTM AND JAVASCRIPTING FOR EACH WEB PAGE, IMAGES FROM THOSE PAGES, DATE AND TIME OF CREATION.
But I didn't do any felony!
MR. REGAN, THE EVIDENCE IS RIGHT HERE. SEE HOW THOSE LINKS ARE COLORED? WHEN YOU LINK ON A LINK, AGAIN, LINKS ARE JAVASCRIPTED. YOU CLICK ON A LINK, IT CHANGES COLOR.
Links are javascripted? But I don't even drink coffee!
TELL IT TO THE JUDGE.
Seriously, Michael Regan is going to have trouble getting his personal computer serviced anywhere - unless he can get Bob Hartz to work on his personal computer.
For additional coverage on the Julie Amero case, see Karoli's FriendFeed. Sphere: Related Content
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