A 19-year-old Berkeley man has been arrested and charged in connection with a hacking and child pornography case, police said.
The suspect was arrested on Monday by police and charged on Wednesday by the the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office with felony possession of child pornography, multiple counts of felony accessing computer systems, felony identity theft and multiple counts of distributing private intimate images, according to the Berkeley Police Department.
On May 10, Berkeley High School officials notified the Berkeley Police Department several female students had their social media accounts hacked to search for and access personal nude photographs.
Police said the hacker then posted underage nude photographs to various social media sites and attempted to extort the victims for more nude photographs.
Investigators discovered 17 victims connected with the case from across the Bay Area.
Police said the suspect targeted several private and public Bay Area schools located in Alameda, Contra Costa and Marin counties.
Police, with the assistance of the FBI, were able to identify the suspect as a 19-year-old Berkeley man.
Police obtained a warrant for his arrest and learned he had amassed more than 130 videos of child pornography that included images of children from ages 3 to 12. Investigators also found personal information for more than 100 people that was used to access their social media accounts.
Police did not release the name of the suspect.
I’m sorry, but I don’t have a lot of sympathy for ‘victims’ who post nude pictures of themselves internet sites, then the pics leak out, or are hacked. Wouldn’t happen if they did put them there in the first place.
It’s really disturbing that high school girls are doing this.
Concur.
.
Stupidity reigns.
Im sorry Badge1104 but who in their right mind would say something like that. Did you not read that the 19 year old Berkeley MAN posted the girls photos. Wherever the girls had it saved on their personal accounts, why would the man exposing them be okay? what they do is none of your business and they did not consent to that being posted. you are sickening.
@bluelover
Then they assumed the risks of their account being hacked.
.
Did they have a reasonable expecting of privacy? Yes but total privacy is not guaranteed.
There is still an inherent risk of storing ANY digital information outside of their direct control.
.
I’m sorry, I did not mean to excuse the perp it was doing the exploiting. But the fact remains, if those girls were not posting nude photos of themselves on the internet, even their own sites, he would not have been able to do it.
As it has been widely reported, and the suspect is over 18, his name is Liam Burgmann of Berkeley. Evil and creepy that he would hack personal accounts and blackmail minors. It is very fitting this his misdeeds are made public, sends a message to other deviants. Photos of 3 year olds, disgusting.
The girls probably put nude pics on their private social media accounts so they could basically file-share nudes with their current boyfriend. For what other reason would anyone have nudes on a social media account? Bad judgment all around. If one of the girls was my daughter I would take her phone and never give it back. If she wants one she can buy it herself when she turns 18. Parental controls on the phone and home router are imperative.
Sort of stupid to put anything on your computer you don’t want the world to see. However this guy was blackmailing and had child porn on his computer. So a pox on all of them. I am still trying to get my head around why any young normal girl would post nude self pictures.
Social media, a blight on society. The high school girls who’s nude/intimate photos who they posted on social media should have know better. Nothing the the internet is private as much as you wish it was. Just ask the Department of State and all the other corporations and government agencies who have been hacked in the last year.
Bluelover: I see what you’re saying, however, had these young teens not taken photos of themselves whether to post or keep on their computers, this wouldn’t have happened.
What’s happening to our youth?? What on earth would make young people to take nude photos of themselves in the first place?? If they don’t want them hacked or stolen, why not get a digital camera and keep these shots of themselves in their personal camera? Why do the teens of today do this? What is the purpose? Do they think they will end up on the cover of Playboy or something??
I know this is the sign of the times, I just know that NOBODY was taking nude photos of themselves during the times I grew up.
With ALL of the hype out there regarding these careless acts you’d think they’d know better. If they don’t heed the advice of the dangers in posting these types of irresponsible acts, then they can’t be ashamed or surprised I f there personal photos get out…COME ON PARENTS, talk some sense into your children. Let them know the ramifications of your child’s stupidity of sending or putting up naked photos of themselves . . . ANYWHERE!! Let your children know that once they’re sent or hacked, they’re never going to stop recirculating and WILL come back to bite them when applying for work, or anything else where a background check may take place.
I’m sorry but I have to agree with Badge1104 and the above comments; these teens need to take some of the responsibility of this happening to them.
As for the 19 yr old? LOCK HIM UP.
Badge1104 once again people blaming the victims. Just because someone makes a mistake you basically say that they are not worth getting justice. The criminal is “justified” to basically ruin someone’s life because they made a mistake. And what about the child pornography? Is that their fault too? There is so much to the story that you missed. You sound ignorant instead of blaming the suspect you decided to write unnecessary comment that doesn’t help anyone.
Posting nude selfies on the internet is not a mistake.
This guy is a Perv, no doubt. But leaving nude photos of yourself on your devise is asking for trouble. I think it is safe to assume we all know about hacking in this day and age. And if these women were showing/sharing those images with other people, wouldn’t that be a crime as well?
Note to self: Don’t post pictures on social media with the expectation that I will have any control over who sees them.
Nevertheless, I blame this pervert for the crimes he has committed. I strongly believe that he, and all who deal in child pornography, should receive a very short life sentence.
@bluelover
Then they assumed the risks of their account being hacked.
.
Did they have a reasonable expecting of privacy? Yes but total privacy is not guaranteed.
There is still an inherent risk of storing ANY digital information outside of their direct control.
.
Badge 1104
Why do you think the photos were self taken photos of high school girls? The article states the kids were ages 3-12. This isn’t Highschool. Most of these photos are taken against the will of the unknowing victim. Just this past month some creep was found at a local swim meet luring kids away. This includes boys. It’s a sick sick world out there with sick sick people. Don’t be so hasty in blaming teens for selfies.
And thanks to the “youthful offender” law/act he will probably not even receive a slap on the rest. Since you’re not held accountable for your own actions until you’re 26 years old. Look it up.