The two were the first of five people to be booked in Santa Clara County Superior Court on felony charges stemming from HP's internal probe into boardroom leaks to the media. Prosecutors released Dunn on her own recognizance and scheduled her arraignment for Nov. 17.

The terms of Hunsaker's release were not immediately clear. His arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 6.

California Attorney General Bill Lockyer said Dunn, Hunsaker, and three investigators under contract broke several laws while obtaining detailed phone records that yielded information on 590 land, cell and fax lines. They each face charges for allegedly engaging in fraudulent wire communications, wrongful use of computer data, identity theft, and conspiracy to commit those three crimes.

Hunsaker and Dunn maintain their innocence.

Tom Dresslar, a spokesman for Lockyer, said Thursday that authorities had arranged with lawyers for two of the three contractors charged in the case. Lawyers for Ron DeLia of Massachusetts and Bryan Wagner of Colorado indicated their clients would travel to California to surrender voluntarily this week, Dresslar said. When they do, they will be booked and scheduled for arraignment. Bail, requested at $50,000 each, could be renegotiated.

As of Thursday afternoon, authorities had not been able to contact Matthew DePante, the other subcontractor charged, nor anyone on his behalf. Prosecutors sought $100,000 bail for DePante. Reports earlier in the week named DePante's brother, Joseph as being targeted by the investigation. Though he works with Matthew DePante, Joseph DePante has not been charged.

Hunsaker's lawyer, Michael Pancer, said the investigators obtained phone records before Hunsaker became involved. He said that after Hunsaker became involved he believed those methods had been vetted by his superiors and other lawyers he respected. Despite that, Hunsaker double-checked and believed the methods were legal, Pancer said.

"It will be clear, when all of the facts are aired in this case, Mr. Hunsaker is not guilty of any of the charges," he said. "Neither Kevin Hunsaker nor HP ever authorized, encouraged, or knew of any unlawful activity. Kevin took no actions related to obtaining information about phone calls that were not known and authorized by his superiors after they had obtained an attorney's opinion that the investigative tactics were legal If he could undo everything that has happened now, he would. However, at no time did he -- or would he -- ever authorize or engage in any activity that he thought was illegal."

By: DocMemory
Copyright © 2023 CST, Inc. All Rights Reserved