Man pleads no contest to hacking into computer of firm affiliated with Department of Defense

SAN FERNANDO, Calif. (AP) _ A former employee of a company that makes guidance systems for the Defense Department has pleaded no contest to hacking into the company's computer system and shutting it

Wednesday, October 17th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SAN FERNANDO, Calif. (AP) _ A former employee of a company that makes guidance systems for the Defense Department has pleaded no contest to hacking into the company's computer system and shutting it down for 24 hours.

Armen Oganesyan's trial was scheduled to start Tuesday but he pleaded no contest to one count of computer access and fraud. He also admitted causing more than $150,000 in property damage, prosecutors said.

Oganesyan faces up to five years in state prison and restitution claims of more than $250,000 when he is sentenced on Nov. 19.

Oganesyan, 27, was employed by H.R. Textron, a Valencia-based Department of Defense contractor. He was let go in February 2000 after admitting hacking into the computer. Four separate locations including one in Ohio were affected.

A six-month investigation led to Oganesyan's arrest a year ago.