Gwinnett Justice Center, Lawrenceville, Georgia. (Photo: John Disney/ALM)

Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge Kathryn Schrader was indicted Wednesday by a grand jury on three counts of computer trespass for allegedly hiring a private investigator to monitor her court computer, which she suspected was hacked by District Attorney Danny Porter.

Also indicted were the private investigator, T.J. Ward, and two computer specialists: convicted child molester Ed Kramer and forensic investigator Frank Karic.

The indictment was presented by a special prosecutor, Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia general counsel Robert Smith Jr. after Porter recused.

It was a complaint from Porter that launched a Georgia Bureau of Investigation probe into Schrader's use of the investigators after she allegedly allowed them to access the county's computer system.

Schrader stopped hearing criminal cases in May, and her criminal caseload has been assumed by appointed judges.

The indictments handed down Wednesday said Schrader and her three co-defendants "knowingly use[d] a computer network without authority and with the intent to interfere with the use of the Gwinnett County Justice Center computer network" without authority and "with the intent to alter the computer network" in violation of Georgia's computer trespass statute.

Gwinnett Superior Court Senior Judge Donald Sweat signed bench warrants for the arrest of all four defendants. Schrader was ordered released on her own recognizance, while Ward and Karic were granted $25,000 bonds. Sweat declined to grant bond for Kramer.

Schrader is represented by B.J. Bernstein of Palmetto's Bernstein Firm.

"Judge Schrader has spent her career pursuing justice as an attorney and as a Judge," Bernstein said in a statement. "She believes in the justice system and knows from her years of experience  the presumption of innocence is real and necessary because she's seen the innocent needing a trial to undo an allegation. Standing unfairly accused she will rely on her deep faith, family and  her belief in justice to defend herself."

Ward's attorney, Snellville solo Michael Puglise, said his client would fight the charges, which he said were baseless.

"Mr. Ward has served his community and profession well, and his reputation speaks volumes," said Puglise. "We're prepared to defend these charges, which are completely without foundation. Mr. Ward maintains his innocence; he was given proper authority to perform his services by the judge, who possessed that authority."

The Daily Report is attempting to contact the lawyers for Kramer and Karic.

Porter said he could not comment on the case, from which he has recused, as he is likely to be called as a witness.

The case began in February when Schrader contacted Ward to look into whether Porter had hacked her computer.

Ward allegedly had Karic install a device called a WireShark on Schrader's computer to monitor activity on the computer network. Kramer, who co-founded Dragon Con and was later convicted of child molestation, was allegedly hired to analyze the findings.

Porter, who denied hacking the judge's computer, asked the GBI to investigate the possible breach of the county's computer system when apprised of the monitoring. He also recused from the investigation into Schrader's activities, and filed a motion asking her to recuse from any cases his office is prosecuting.

Read more:

Gwinnett DA Seeks Recusal of Judge Under GBI Investigation Over Computer Hack Claim

Gwinnett DA Porter Recuses From GBI Probe Into Judge's Computer Hack

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