Reuters social media editor disputes Anonymous conspiracy accusations

A Reuters deputy social media editor accused of conspiring with hacktivist group Anonymous sent a message to the public via Facebook in an attempt to clear his name.

Last Thursday, Matthew Keys, 26, was indicted in California on charges that he damaged a computer and aided Anonymous' brief defacement of an article posted on The Los Angeles Times website.

Federal prosecutors said Keys, a former web producer for a Tribune Co.-owned television station, provided hackers with a company server login and password – a claim he denied Thursday on his Facebook fan page. The Tribune Co. is the parent company for the Times.

"I did not give a username and password to anyone," Keys wrote in the post.

If convicted, he could face 10 years in prison if convicted, although federal sentencing guidelines suggest he would receive less time.