...were aware that using an unsecured Wi-Fi connection without the owner's permission--a practice known as piggybacking--was a felony.
So, If I were to leave my my landline laying in the yard, attached to a phone unsecured for any to use, knowing that it was unsecured and open to any Tom, Dick or Harry to use, it would be a felony for them to use it?
*Goggle*
Those who leave their Acess Points open for all to use with no manner of authentication have no leave to claim illegal access when others avail themselves of the open portal. Even the simplest of security measure (easily crackable though they be) provide at least the claim of propriety. Doing NOTHING to keep others out strikes me as folly at best....