Meet Convicted 35-Count Rabbit Abuser
Campus Blotter: Computer Geek Dorin Dehelean Arrested for Blackmailing Student
Friday, February 19, 2010 at 9:00 am
This week in Campus Blotter: It's been two years since the music industry ended its crackdown on kids who steal music online. But for computer geek Dorin Dehelean, the thrill of the hunt was still way too irresistible...
The 37-year-old security analyst at the University of Georgia was arrested earlier this month for allegedly blackmailing a student who had downloaded copyrighted music on a campus computer.
Rather than report the incident to university officials, as he was paid to do, Dehelean called the student on January 25 to let her know that she had been caught. He then kindly offered to make the problem go away in exchange for a modest gratuity.
The student responded that she didn't have the money, then she ratted him out. An undercover cop posed as the student to complete the transaction, and Dehelean was nabbed as soon as he accepted the dough.
UGA police believe other students were likely victimized by Dehelean's scam, though they may be afraid to come forward out of fear of punishment for their illegal downloading.
But doing so would appear not to be a problem: The Recording Industry Association of America ceased its war against campus piracy in 2008, leaving jurisdiction in the hands of each university. At Georgia, first offenses are punishable with a friendly warning, while subsequent infractions result in no more than a ban from campus computers -- and even those sanctions will be lifted for anyone who can help the investigation.
It appears school policy against dickheads who blackmail students is somewhat less forgiving: Dehelean was fired immediately upon arrest. He's been charged with felony extortion, which could land him up to 10 years behind bars.
Tune in to last week's Campus Blotter: Breanne Fraser's Threesome Ends in Stabbing, Theft at Bentley University.
Tags: Campus Blotter, Georgia
More links from around the web!
