by: Shane McGlaun
Graduation time is near for most students at Tesoro High School in Orange County California. However, two students are facing the prospect of beginning a prison term rather than walking across the stage to receive their diplomas. One of the teens faces the possibility of 38 years in prison.
The two teens, Omar Khan and Tanvir Singh, have been charged with multiple felony counts. Khan’s chargers are by far the most severe with a total of 69 felony counts pending against him including identity theft, second degree burglary, computer access and fraud, removing and secreting a public record and altering and falsifying a public record.
The charges stem from Khan’s attempt to hack into his teachers computer using a stolen password to change his low grades to A’s and B’s. Khan is also alleged to have tried to install spyware to allow him access to the schools secure network remotely. In addition to attempting to change his own grades, Khan is also accused of trying to change the grades of 12 other students.
Khan was found out when he requested a school transcript in order to appeal a denial of admission to the University of California for the coming fall semester. An investigation was started after school administrators noticed discrepancies in Khan’s grades. That investigation resulted in the officials finding Khan had original tests, answers and copies of his altered grades.
The second teen, Singh, faces four counts including conspiracy, burglary, computer fraud and altering a public record after an alleged attempt to break into a class room and steal test answers before a test.
Merlin Stapleton, attorney for Singh said, “This is certainly not the first time we've heard of a kid cheating. Sometimes they do these types of things simply to see if they can. The only thing that makes this case different is the technology used.”
The 38-year sentence is the maximum Khan could face and both teens face arraignment on July 8.
