ADRIAN, Mich. - Question: The woman who made history on the television quiz show “Jeopardy!’’ but now is accused of hacking the e-mail account of a former co-worker at Adrian College.
Answer: Who is Stephanie Jass?
Stephanie Jass, 47, of Tecumseh was arraigned Tuesday morning in Lenawee County District court on two felony counts. One is the unauthorized access to a computer, computer program or network, and the other of using a computer to commit a crime.
A news release from the Michigan State Cyber Command Center said the agency started an investigation after being contacted by Adrian College staff. The allegations state that Jass may have accessed several college accounts without authorization. The arrest warrant said the activity happened on April 25 and charges were authorized after a forensic examination of the digital evidence.
Det. Sgt. Richard Ruiz said Wednesday: "The warrant was authorized a week or so ago and we coordinated with the Monroe post to arrest her.''
Using the services of a computer, computer program or network without authorization or exceeding authorized access within the state of Michigan is a violation of state law.
The charge of using a computer to commit a crime is punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $5,000 fine along with the cost of prosecuting. The unauthorized access charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Jass is set to appear before Judge Laura J. Schaedler for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 12.
Jass' attorney, Raymond Correll, did not return calls to the Free Press. Adrian College’s Department of History and the president’s office also didn’t return calls.
Lenawee County prosecutor Burke Castleberry Jr. said he couldn't discuss whose e-mails were hacked, but said: "I can tell you this much: Basically there was a technology incident at Adrian College that caused the college to send out a campus-wide reset. When they did that there was a temporary password. Anyone could have gotten into anyone else's e-mail at that point.''
Castleberry said the investigation revealed that Jass had hacked into the e-mails of a couple of people and had access to them for up to four days.
When the trial starts in 2018, up to six people could testify for the prosecution against Jass, including the expert from the MSP crime lab and a detective along with three or four Adrian College personnel who were hacked.
Adrian College has referred to Jass as a former faculty member and former history professor.
According to a statement released by the school: “Adrian College wants to thank the Michigan State Police and Lenawee County Prosecutors office for their thorough investigation and for ultimately bringing charges in this crime. Privacy rights are a fundamental principle of our American democracy, and Adrian College stands with those who protect these rights.’’
The school said it would have no further comment.
Jass, a Western Michigan grad, rose to fame after appearing more than 10 times on "Jeopardy!" She competed in the Tournament of Champions and Battle of the Decades Tournament. She went on a seven-game win streak in October 2012 and previously had the record for most wins by a woman on the show. The Milan resident took in about $166,000, according to reports.
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