Lauri Love faces extradition to the United States from Britain to face trial for allegedly hacking into various U.S. government agencies, including the FBI and the country's missile defense agency.
Love, 31, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, was ordered to be transferred to the United States by Judge Nina Tempia in Westminster Magistrates Court, BBC News reported. His attorney's claimed that Love could spend 99 years in prison if he is convicted in the United States, stated the network.
Love's attorneys argued he should not be extradited because of his mental health issues, the BBC News reported. U.S. prosecutors argued, though, that Love was attempting to use his mental health issues as an excuse to escape a trial and a potential lengthy prison sentence.
"Mr. Love faces extremely serious charges for offences of computer hacking over a period of one year, from October 2012 to October 2013," Tempia said in rebuffing the defense's efforts against extradition, according to The Guardian.
"I accept Mr. Love suffers from both physical and mental health issues, but I have found the medical facilities in the United States prison estate, on arrival and during any sentence if he is convicted available to him, are such that I can be satisfied his needs will be comprehensively met by the U.S. authorities," Tempia added.
Love's solicitor Karen Todner vowed to appeal the ruling. Love had argued that a prison sentence in the United States would cause his health to deteriorate, reported The Guardian.
"I feel awfully disappointed," Todner said, according to The Guardian. "I thought we had done enough. I'm hopeful that the higher courts will consider the human rights issues."
Love is charged with committing cyberattacks against the United States as part of a "hacktivist" campaign to protest the death of computer programmer Aaron Swartz, according to The Telegraph. Swartz was facing 35 years in prison on a computer misuse charges.
The Telegraph wrote that Love was accused of tapping into the U.S. Federal Reserve, NASA, and U.S. Army websites, and downloading employee contact details and monitoring communications.
"It is not right that my son can be taken away," Rev. Alexander Love, Lauri Love's father, told The Telegraph. "It is my belief that it is not fair or just that a boy who has got mental health issues can be taken away from his family who are his support network. We've had a big discussion about who can come into this county. Let's have a discussion about who can be taken out and why they should be taken out."
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