Ex-Lucas Employee Charged with "Star Wars" Theft

Zardon · Oct 10, 2002, 08:21 PM

A former production assistant for Marin County-based LucasFilm, also known as Skywalker Ranch, was booked in Los Angeles County Jail Tuesday for allegedly stealing a bootlegged copy of "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones" and circulating it over the Internet for early review.
The employee, identified as Shea O'Brien Foley by Marin Deputy District Attorney Paul Haakenson, was employed by LucasFilm between September 2000 and April 2002.
During his employment with LucasFilm, the 30-year-old Foley allegedly stole aspects of the latest Star Wars trilogy film before its nationwide theatrical release, including CD-Rom discs containing sound effects, storyboard images, the film's score, and digital images and video files associated with the film, the Marin Independent Journal reported Tuesday.
It was also discovered by authorities that Foley had hoarded additional stolen materials in his Petaluma, California townhouse belonging to other Star Wars movies, which he was not authorized by LucasFilm to obtain, the Marin County Independent Journal reported.

Foley was arrested at NBC Studios in Burbank, California on Oct. 8. He is being charged with four counts of unlawful access to a computer and nine counts of grand theft, said Haakenson.
Following his dismissal in April from LucasFilm, Foley returned to Los Angeles to live with his mother. He was employed by the facilities department at NBC.
According to Haakenson, the arrest was made by the Department of Motor Vehicles' Computer Forensics unit. Foley is being held in Los Angeles County Jail on $200,000 bail, said Haakenson.

The extent of the damages, according to LucasFilm, are inestimable at this point due to the fact that as a direct result of Foley's alleged actions, "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones" was prematurely released over the Internet, several months prior to its scheduled release.

The actual cost of the stolen Star Wars material is estimated at $450,000.
According to the Marin Independent Journal, the stolen Star Wars copy fell into the hands of Internet writer Harry Knowles, and LucasFilm suspected at the time that the copy had been leaked by a company employee.
Foley will be brought back to Marin over the next three to four business days and arraigned, said Haakenson, followed by a preliminary hearing. He could face up to seven years in prison, said Haakenson, based on the standard penalty for 13 felony counts.

Foley, a Star Wars fan himself, frequented Star Wars-related chat rooms, which initially tipped investigators off and led to the arrest.
Foley was singled out as a suspect because of incriminating material discovered on a chat room site in which Foley was identified.
LucasFilm spokesperson Lynne Hale was not able to confirm any information regarding the Foley arrest because of its status as a criminal investigation.
The head of security for NBC studios said that Foley appeared to be friendly and cooperative with authorities at the time of the arrest.
According to Boston-based Viant Corp., an estimated 350,000 copies of films are illegally downloaded each day, and as technology advances, the numbers increase. By Gretchen Hyman

Nexus · Oct 11, 2002, 12:38 AM

were can I get this bootlag EP II copy (just kidding) lol

speaking of that
it takes them so long to get out the dvds oh well

IGGY · Oct 12, 2002, 04:04 PM

Ex-Lucasfilm worker faces 'Star Wars' theft charges

http://www.marinij.com/news/archive/...s2002453.shtml

R1UK · Oct 12, 2002, 11:11 PM

Pfffff you think he might have stolen something worthwhile like an Imperial Star Destroyer at least. Imagine the fun you could have..............

Oct 10, 2002, 08:21 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	Ex-Lucas Employee Charged with "Star Wars" Theft A former production assistant for Marin County-based LucasFilm, also known as Skywalker Ranch, was booked in Los Angeles County Jail Tuesday for allegedly stealing a bootlegged copy of "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones" and circulating it over the Internet for early review. The employee, identified as Shea O'Brien Foley by Marin Deputy District Attorney Paul Haakenson, was employed by LucasFilm between September 2000 and April 2002. During his employment with LucasFilm, the 30-year-old Foley allegedly stole aspects of the latest Star Wars trilogy film before its nationwide theatrical release, including CD-Rom discs containing sound effects, storyboard images, the film's score, and digital images and video files associated with the film, the Marin Independent Journal reported Tuesday. It was also discovered by authorities that Foley had hoarded additional stolen materials in his Petaluma, California townhouse belonging to other Star Wars movies, which he was not authorized by LucasFilm to obtain, the Marin County Independent Journal reported. Foley was arrested at NBC Studios in Burbank, California on Oct. 8. He is being charged with four counts of unlawful access to a computer and nine counts of grand theft, said Haakenson. Following his dismissal in April from LucasFilm, Foley returned to Los Angeles to live with his mother. He was employed by the facilities department at NBC. According to Haakenson, the arrest was made by the Department of Motor Vehicles' Computer Forensics unit. Foley is being held in Los Angeles County Jail on $200,000 bail, said Haakenson. The extent of the damages, according to LucasFilm, are inestimable at this point due to the fact that as a direct result of Foley's alleged actions, "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones" was prematurely released over the Internet, several months prior to its scheduled release. The actual cost of the stolen Star Wars material is estimated at $450,000. According to the Marin Independent Journal, the stolen Star Wars copy fell into the hands of Internet writer Harry Knowles, and LucasFilm suspected at the time that the copy had been leaked by a company employee. Foley will be brought back to Marin over the next three to four business days and arraigned, said Haakenson, followed by a preliminary hearing. He could face up to seven years in prison, said Haakenson, based on the standard penalty for 13 felony counts. Foley, a Star Wars fan himself, frequented Star Wars-related chat rooms, which initially tipped investigators off and led to the arrest. Foley was singled out as a suspect because of incriminating material discovered on a chat room site in which Foley was identified. LucasFilm spokesperson Lynne Hale was not able to confirm any information regarding the Foley arrest because of its status as a criminal investigation. The head of security for NBC studios said that Foley appeared to be friendly and cooperative with authorities at the time of the arrest. According to Boston-based Viant Corp., an estimated 350,000 copies of films are illegally downloaded each day, and as technology advances, the numbers increase. By Gretchen Hyman

Oct 11, 2002, 12:38 AM	#2
Nexus -=Space Cowboy=- Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: NCV-474439-G Posts: 108 Rep Power: 0	were can I get this bootlag EP II copy (just kidding) lol speaking of that it takes them so long to get out the dvds oh well

Oct 12, 2002, 04:04 PM	#3
IGGY DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 50 Rep Power: 0	Ex-Lucasfilm worker faces 'Star Wars' theft charges http://www.marinij.com/news/archive/...s2002453.shtml

Oct 12, 2002, 11:11 PM	#4
R1UK DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 32 Rep Power: 0	Pfffff you think he might have stolen something worthwhile like an Imperial Star Destroyer at least. Imagine the fun you could have..............