Orange High School Student Accused Of Hacking Into Computer System, Changing Grades
ORANGE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A 16-year-old high school sophomore from Orange, New Jersey has been charged with hacking into a school computer system to change grades and attendance records.
The teenager, whose name was not released because of his age, was charged with multiple counts of second-degree computer theft for the purpose of unlawfully accessing and altering data, and one count of hindering apprehension, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's office.
School officials notified police that someone had hacked into the computer system, prompting Orange police to notify the Essex County Prosecutor's office Cyber Crimes Unit.
Prosecutors believe the student changed grades and attendance records of multiple students by hacking into the system with a staff member's password, prosecutors said.
The student has been released on a recognizance bond, and the case was expected to be handled in Family Court, prosecutors said.
More than 30 students were also suspended form Orange High School in connection with the incident, CBS 2 reported last week. But most of the suspended students said they were innocent and that whoever hacked the system changed a lot of grades so it would not be tracked back to him.
At least 100 students were questioned about the incident.
The students were facing 10-day suspensions along with being banned from participating in extracurricular activities next school year, one student said.
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