Wisconsin man to face charges in Koch cyberattack

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- A Wisconsin man accused of joining a cyberattack on Wichita-based Koch Industries organized by the computer hacker group Anonymous is expected in court to face criminal charges.

Thirty-seven-year-old Eric J. Rosol of Black Creek, Wis., was summoned to appear Wednesday in federal court in Wichita for his initial hearing. He faces one count each of damaging a computer and conspiracy to damage a computer.

Such first appearances are brief and used to set bond and appoint legal representation as needed.

The indictment alleges that Anonymous asked conspirators in February 2011 to launch a "Low Orbit Ion Cannon" that sent a high volume of repeated requests to a Koch website. Numerous conspirators complied, and the company's website crashed.

Rosol is also accused of sending a code that damaged the company's computer.