Email snooping custody battle woman escapes jail

An Arizona woman who intercepted the email of her husband's ex-wife has been sentenced to 60 days home detention.

Angel Lee, 28, admitted snooping on at least 215 emails sent over a two month period last year to Duongladde Ramsay, former spouse of Lee's husband, Jeffrey.

Lee, from El Mirage in Arizona, was able to spy on Ramsey's email after fraudulently obtained her user name and password. She reportedly snooped on Ramsey's email because of concerns about the children her husband had left with his former wife in Colorado, AP reports.

Following the discovery of her crime, Lee pleaded guilty to intercepting wire communication.

Sentencing Lee to home detention, US District Judge Richard P. Matsch said he intended her punishment to serve as a warning to others who might decide to snoop on personal correspondence.

Matsch said that he had considered sending Lee to jail but decided that the interests of justice were better served if she stayed at home to look after her young children.

Lee, who has expressed regret over her actions, must pay for the cost of the home monitoring equipment that will be used to track her whereabouts.

In a previous court proceeding, Matsch described the case as "a vicious, mean-spirited (divorce) dispute about children", AP reports.

Ramsay, the victim in the case, has likened Lee's actions to someone "breaking into her home and reading her diary". ®