Student arrested for computer crimes
A 24-year-old graduate student was arraigned Aug. on 23 counts of computer crimes. Ning Ma is accused of unlawfully attaining the usernames and passwords of more than 60 U-M students and professors from August 2002 through April 2003, according to the complaint filed by the State Attorney General’s Office. He was charged with 16 counts of unauthorized access to a computer or network, which carries a penalty of five years and/or a fine of $10,000; five counts of eavesdropping, two years and/or $2,000; and one count each of unlawful possession of an eavesdropping device, two years and/or $2,000, and using a computer to commit a crime, four years and/or $5,000. Bond was set at $1 million. Ma remains in the Washtenaw County Jail awaiting his Aug. 13 preliminary exam.
Student robbed at summer festival
An Ann Arbor middle school student reported July that he had been approached in the Fletcher Street parking structure by four youths who held him down against his will and took the contents of his wallet. The victim was not injured in the incident. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is seeking charges of strong-arm robbery for four Ann Arbor juveniles.
Several campers lose money
DPS took 12 reports in July for thefts from residence hall rooms of summer campers. Small amounts of money, a cell phone and a CD player were among the items listed as missing. Nine of the incidents, involving as many as 17 rooms, were reported from Bursley Hall, while three reports were filed from West Quadrangle. No damage was reported to any of the doors, though some campers reported they had locked their rooms.
Family housing unit entered
A resident of Northwood IV reported July 30 that a camcorder and battery pack had been stolen from his apartment. It appeared the burglar entered the apartment through an unsecured sliding patio door.
Two sexual assaults reported
A campus visitor reported her former boyfriend had assaulted her July 18 at North Hall. She did not sustain injuries that required medical attention.
DPS has no additional information to release about a July incident in which a man reportedly fondled a juvenile at Saginaw Forest on West Liberty Avenue. The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 35 years old, feet inches to feet inches, with a thin build, dark hair and a dark complexion. He was wearing sideburns and possibly a mustache. He was last seen driving an old, blue or grey four-door car in poor, rusty condition with a loud muffler. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call DPS at (734) 763-1131.
Youth found joyriding
A Texas juvenile visiting southeast Michigan while participating in a junior Olympics competition at Eastern Michigan University was found joyriding in a rental car July 30. DPS officers pulled the car over on South Industrial when they observed the car did not have a proper license plate. Upon investigation, the officers found the youth was driving without an operator’s license and did not have authority to drive the car. Joyriding is a felony offense punishable by two years in prison and/or a fine of not more than $1,000. The youth was released to his coach.
Bulletin board damaged
Staff members in the Chemistry Building used fire extinguishers to put out a small fire on a bulletin board July 7. No other damage was caused by the arson.
