Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Scarlett Johansson's Hackerazzi Allegedly Stalked a 13-Year-Old Non-Celebrity

Screenshot of Christopher Chaney (WTEV)

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

The man who hacked into the accounts of celebrities like ScarJo and Mila Kunis may have stalked a totally unfamous Connecticut woman for 12 years, starting when she was 13 years old.Christopher Chaney, the Jacksonville, Florida man who was arrested by the FBI for hacking into celebrity accounts, talked to his local TV station after his arrest and said that he stalked celebrities, because he was curious about their private lives. "It started as curiosity and it turned to just being addictive," Chaney said. "Seeing the behind-the-scenes of what's going on with the people you see on the big screen."

But that doesn't explain why he allegedly turned his attention to non-celebrities, according to the Los Angeles Times. Investigators are saying that he stalked a Connecticut woman that he began chatting with when she was 13 years old.

The Associated Press tracked down court documents saying that Chaney hacked into the girl's computer the same way that he had with celebrities. He took photos and other materials from her online accounts and posted them online and even uploaded them to porn site. The woman said in documents that Chaney caused her "serious emotional distress."

So although the new word "hackerazzi" used to describe Chaney sounds like "paparazzi," he probably has more in common with this sextortionist than the average US Weekly photographer.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today