Felony Charges for Georgia Tech Student Indicted in UGA Hack

A Georgia Tech student who allegedly hacked into the University of Georgia’s online calendar and posted a message regarding the schools’ football rivalry was indicted and jailed on felony charges last week.

Ryan Gregory Pickren, 21, of Oldsmar, Florida, is charged with felony computer trespass for allegedly hacking UGA’s computer system two days before a Georgia Tech and UGA football game. Pickren is a Georgia Tech student majoring in computer engineering with a minor in computer science, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Below the legitimate calendar entry for the Nov. 29 game, Pickren allegedly entered “Get Ass Kicked by GT.” UGA’s vice president for public affairs Tom Jackson said the hack was discovered shortly after it was posted on Thanksgiving Day and was taken down about an hour after it appeared.

The UGA Police Department subsequently launched an investigation but did not arrest Pickren. Instead, evidence was submitted to a grand jury and Pickren was indicted Dec. 16 and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest Dec. 22. Pickren surrendered the next day at Athens-Clarke County Jail and was released later that day after posting a $5,000 bond.

Conviction of felony computer trespassing is punishable by a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.