In New York, a few students are in some hot water... after they allegedly accessed school computers and changed their own grades.
Now, the three high school students are facing criminal charges. Emily Smith has the story.
--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
17-YEAR-OLD DANIEL SOARES - STOOD TALL AS HE WALKED OUT OF COURT RELEASED ON HIS OWN RECOGNIZANCE.
HE'S CONSIDERED THE RING LEADER IN A CRIMINAL SCHOOL COMPUTER HACKING CASE AT COMMACK HIGH SCHOOL.
(George Duncan/Daniel Soares' Attorney)
"We are waiting for a full investigation to be done. He maintains his innocence."
ALSO CHARGED IN THE INCIDENT - ALEX MOSQUERA AND ERICK VAYSMAN-- ALL JUNIORS IN HIGH SCHOOL, CHARGED AS ADULTS.
POLICE SAY SOARES BROKE INTO HIS HIGH SCHOOL DURING AFTER HOURS AND EQUIPPED A COMPUTER WITH HARDWARE THAT ALLOWED HIM TO GET PASSWORDS AND LOG IN CREDENTIALS LEADING TO GRADES, SCHEDULES AND OTHER STUDENT INFORMATION.
THEY ONCE SOARES RETRIEVED THE HARDWARE HE COULD CHANGE GRADES FROM HOME.
(John Best/Detective Sergeant)
"At this point we believe Daniel changed at least four of his own grades.//BUTTED TO//His own grade was changed, I believe, from a 94 to a one-hundred, a perfect score of one-hundred."
IT WAS DISTRICT LEADERS WHO NOTICED CHANGES BEING MADE WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION.
DETECTIVE SERGEANT BEST WOULDN'T ELABORATE BUT SAYS DETECTIVES WERE CALLED IN AND FOUND REMNANTS OF SOARES --- WHICH LED TO A SEARCH WARRANT AT HIS HOME.
AND ULTIMATELY THREE ARRESTS.
SOARES CHARGES INCLUDE BURGLARY, COMPUTER TAMPERING, IDENTITY THEFT, COMPUTER TRESPASSING AND EAVESDROPPING.
VAYSMAN'S CHARGED WITH COMPUTER TAMPERING.
(John Best/Detective Sergeant)
"He felt he should have had a higher grade in a particular class. And requested Daniel make the change."
AND MOSQUERA'S CHARGES INCLUDE COMPUTER TRESPASS.
AND POLICE BELIEVE THE STUDENTS ALL SUCCEEDED IN OBTAINING WHAT THEY DESIRED ..UNTIL CAUGHT... LEAVING STUDENTS AND PARENTS AT COMMACK HIGH SCHOOL IN AWE --
(Matthew Ryan/Commack High School Junior)
"Everybody wants better grades but it's not the way to do it, in my opinion."
(Cindy Beagan, Parent of Commack Student)
"These kids that's all they do, they're on the computer. They know how to access things. I'm surprised, really. I'm shocked."
(Emily Smith/Commack, NY)
"School district leaders aren't commenting on the case or the students other than to say they're doing everything they can to assure this doesn't happen again. In Commack, Emily Smith, CBS2 News."