Seattle man accused of transmitting Internet virus

- ST. LOUIS - A Seattle man faces up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of releasing a virus that harmed a computer system in Missouri.

Thirty-year-old Richard Honour was arrested Tuesday in Seattle after being indicted Feb. 23 by a federal grand jury in St. Louis.

Federal prosecutors say he is charged with transmitting an Internet virus that infected systems associated with an Internet chat room.

The chat room, called DarkMyst, was developed in Missouri in 1998.

The virus allegedly allowed Honour to gain unauthorized access to banking and other identity information.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)