HP Scandal: Dunn, Hunsaker Face Charges in Court

Former Hewlett-Packard (HP) Chairwoman Patricia Dunn made a brief court appearance Thursday in Santa Clara County, Calif., to face four state felony charges in the HP boardroom scandal. Superior Court Judge Alfonso Fernandez scheduled her arraignment for Nov. 17, at which she will enter a plea to charges in the case.

Patricia Dunn

Also making an initial court appearance earlier in the day was Kevin Hunsaker, HP’s former ethics counsel, who surrendered, was booked and was scheduled for an arraignment Dec. 6, according to the office of California Attorney General Bill Lockyer.

Three private investigators hired by HP to investigate suspected leaks to news media by HP directors were also charged Wednesday, but since they are from out of state, their court appearances will likely occur sometime next week, Lockyer’s office said.

Each of the five defendants faces charges of fraudulent wire communications, wrongful use of computer data, identity theft and conspiracy.

The state alleges that Dunn and Hunsaker authorized an investigation of leaks and hired the private investigators. The investigators allegedly obtained, under false pretenses, the phone records of individuals targeted in their investigation, including HP directors, some employees and journalists who cover the technology company.

-Robert Mullins, IDG News Service (San Francisco Bureau)