Michael Keehn, 61 a former electrical supervisor at the Tehama Colusa Canal Authority was arrested following a grand jury indictment on November 15, 2007 alleging that he intentionally accessed and damaged the computer used to divert water from the Sacramento River to provide, among other things, irrigation to local farms.  He is alleged to have “intentionally caused damage without authorization to a protected computer”.  He installed unauthorized software on the TCAA’s SCADA system.  This computer operates the Tehama Colusa and Corning canals , which are owned by the United States Bureau of Reclamation.  Keehn accessed the system on or about August 15, 2007, the same day he was fired.  Keehn faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a 3 year term of supervised release.  He pled not guilty to computer fraud on November 28, 2007 at his hearing.  He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

The intrusion cost the TCCA more than $5,000 in damages.