Washington, May 1 (IANS) A college student who hacked into the e-mail account of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and posted some of its contents on the internet has been convicted by a US court.obstruction of justice. The court, however, did not find him guilty of wire fraud and identity theft.

Judge Thomas Phillips declared a mistrial on the identity theft charge but did not set a date for sentencing, The Washington Post reported.

Kernell was charged with breaking into Palin's e-mail while she was the Republican vice presidential candidate in 2008.

Defense attorney Wade Davies has said Kernell's action were a prank. Prosecutors claimed he was trying to damage Palin's campaign.

The obstruction charge alone carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years; the misdemeanour count is punishable by up to one year in jail.

Palin issued a statement on her Facebook page, thanking the jury and prosecutors and explaining the case's importance.

Kernell was released on bond while barred from using a computer except for school assignments and e-

The jury Friday convicted David Kernell, 22, on two charges: unauthorised access to a computer and mail.