A woman who stalked Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison for using her work computer at Sandia National Laboratories to track and harass him and his wife.
 
Devon Townsend has 60 days to surrender to a minimum-security prison in Phoenix, where she is expected to receive mental health care. She had pleaded guilty to stalking and other counts.

Townsend, who worked in Sandia's technology and manufacturing group, used lab computers to illegally access private information about Bennington and his wife, Talinda, in 2006.

According to a plea agreement, Townsend said she obtained family photos, monitored voice messages and traveled to Arizona to meet Bennington, using information she learned about his travel plans. She also obtained correspondence between Warner Bros. Records and Linkin Park's business attorney, including a copy of a check made to Bennington from the record company and a copy of the band's recording contract.

Investigators said Townsend also hacked into the e-mail of Bennington's wife and at one point called the former Playboy model and threatened her.

Linkin Park is a rock band from Agoura Hills, California. They formed in 1996. Its current members are Chester Bennington (vocals), Mike Shinoda (emcee, vocals, rhythm guitar), Brad Delson (guitar), Dave "Phoenix" Farrell (bass guitar, backing vocals), Joe Hahn (turntables, programming, samples, beats), Rob Bourdon (drums, keyboard/piano).

They first achieved mainstream success in 2000 with their debut album, “Hybrid Theory” which has since been certified Diamond by RIAA. Their following studio album, “Meteora”, continued the band's success, topping the Billboard 200’s album charts in 2003, and was followed by extensive touring and charity work around the world... read more...