A former Spokane resident and current NASA astronaut has been accused of identity theft while she was on a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station. Anne McClain, who is in the middle of a bitter divorce and child custody battle with her wife, Summer Worden, is accused of logging into and monitoring Worden's personal bank account from a NASA network. McClain is a decorated Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran who flew more than 800 missions in Afghanistan, and according to Stars and Stripes magazine, her name is on a list of candidates NASA is considering to be the first woman on the moon.

Ms. McClain admitted to accessing Ms. Worden's bank account but said she did not transfer any money to or from the account. McClain said she was merely trying to keep an eye on the couple's finances as they pertain to expenses related to caring for Worden's son. Worden has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and NASA about McClain's actions. This could be the first time an alleged crime occurred in space, and it probably won't be the last as other issues come up with international astronauts and space tourism takes off in the future.

Custody Dispute

McClain and Worden met in 2014 when Worden's son was just an infant. They married in late 2014, but Worden never agreed to let McClain adopt her son. In 2018, McClain asked a Houston judge to grant her equal parenting rights because she wanted the court to legally recognize her “established and deeply parental relationship” with the boy. Worden later filed for divorce in late 2018 after McClain accused her of assault, which Worden says was an attempt to gain control of the boy. Worden was also frustrated when McClain posted pictures of herself and the boy on social media, referring to him as “her son.”

Astronaut's Defense

Rusty Hardin, McClain's attorney, claims McClain did nothing wrong and that she is completely cooperating with the authorities who are looking into the issue. McClain submitted to an interview last week with NASA's inspector general's office. McClain said that Worden has a history of making poor financial decisions and she logged into Worden's bank account using the same password she used before they separated. She said she merely wanted to make sure Worden had enough money to pay the bills and care for the boy. McClain says she was never told by Worden to stop accessing the account.

According to Worden, “I was shocked and appalled at the audacity by her to think that she could get away with that, and I was very disheartened that I couldn't keep anything private.”

Defense Attorney Steve Karimi

If you have been accused of stealing someone's identity--even from space--you need a rigorous and an out-of-this-world defense to preserve your rights. Steve Karimi is a former prosecutor who understands both sides of the legal system and will fight to defend you. Call the Law Offices of Steve Karimi today at 206-621-8777 or contact them online to get a free consultation of your case.