BEND, OR -- A former Sunriver Fire Department employee was convicted Friday for 23 counts of misdemeanor computer crime. According to the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office, Jason Arnold illegally hacked into the Fire Chief’s confidential email account to access documents related to labor relation matters. Arnold is the former President of the firefighters’ labor association. 

Arnold was acquitted of a conspiracy charge and the jury was hung on the charge of official misconduct. "Criminal acts committed by public employees will not be tolerated in Deschutes County," D.A. John Hummel said in a statement, following the verdict. "We expect our public employees to work hard for taxpayers who pay their salary and to comport themselves with the highest ethical standards. If they fail to do so they will be held accountable." Hummel calls Arnold’s actions an anomaly within the public sector. "The officers involved in the top notch investigation led by the Sunriver Police Department, with the assistance of the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office and the Bend Police Department, are an accurate example of the exemplary public sector employees that well serve Deschutes County residents."