Please don't take anything I say here as legal advice.

I happen to be reading the computer fraud and abuse act earlier today (no, not for fun I'm reading it for a cybercrime class) and noticed that nearly every provision explicitly mentions someone using a computer that is either unauthorized or is exceeding their authorization. To be clear, this is a criminal statute (depending on the details it can be either a misdemeanor or a felony) and some portions of it provide for a civil remedy as well.

If someone is given login information for purpose X and then they go around deleting things it would seem to me that they are exceeding their authorization. This is true regardless of whether there is another administrator or not.

I'm not saying that this minor is guilty (because I don't have nearly enough information and it wouldn't be my place to do so even if I did), but at first glance there is enough to take this seriously.

That being said, criminal actions are prosecuted by the state and not by Joe Shmoe who is pissed off. I'm not sure what the most recent version of the statute says, but there may be a minimum amount of damage that needs to be caused for there to even be a case.

Under no circumstances is it ok for an adult to be threatening a minor (personal opinion). I would ask the other party to stop or report their actions to the police. We have a legal system in place to prevent vigilante justice. If there is no damage to the computers (and this includes the value of the number of hours it may have taken to fix things) I would try to call it even and move on with life. If the other party continues to threaten the minor I would warn them, report them, and then if necessary find a lawyer.

Remember, please consider everything I have said as my own personal opinion and not legal advice of any kind. I have simplified much of what I wrote so if you want more detailed answers feel free to send me a direct question.
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