Man Charged as ‘Capt. Midnight’
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Associated Press
WASHINGTON — John R. MacDougall of Ocala, Fla., was identified today as “Captain Midnight,” the space-age video pirate who overpowered HBO’s satellite delivery system to send a crude message to viewers in April.
The Federal Communications Commission said MacDougall was arrested and charged with “illegally operating a satellite uplink transmitter” at the Central Florida Teleport, where he was operator on duty the night of April 27. The FCC could fine “Captain Midnight” $10,000 and put the violator in jail for a year, if it can obtain a conviction.
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