San Jose, Calif.-Area Judge Sentences Six Defendants in Technology Theft Case.

Byline: Howard Mintz

Jul. 26--SAN JOSE, Calif.--Closing one of the biggest criminal trade secrets theft cases in Silicon Valley history, a Santa Clara County judge on Wednesday sentenced the six individual defendants who admitted roles in building Avant! Corp. on technology stolen from its chief competitor, Cadence Design Systems.

During a three-hour hearing in Superior Court, Judge Conrad Rushing sentenced one of Avant!'s co-founders, Steven Wuu, to two years in state prison; three other defendants to one year in county jail; and two others to probation, including Avant President and Chief Executive Officer Gerald Hsu. Rushing also finalized the punishment …