Indian-American teen sentenced to three-year probation

An Indian-American teenager has been sentenced to three years probation and 200 hours of community service by a court in southern California, after he pleaded guilty to one count each of felony and misdemeanour.

Tanvir Singh, 18, and his fellow high-school student Omar Khan, who were together charged with 73 felony counts, including hacking into school computers, stealing tests and changing grades, have pleaded not guilty at the court.

But after a plea deal with the prosecutors, Singh pleaded guilty before the court on Wednesday. As per the deal, three other felony counts against him were dropped, and now he won't even face a prison term.

In exchange, he would be called to testify against his alleged co-conspirator, Khan, who is believed to be the mastermind of the plot and faces 69 felony counts.

Singh will also have to pay court fees and all restitution, including possible damages to the school, reported the Orange County Register.

"His participation in the crime was less serious," said Susan Schroeder from the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

"He accepted responsibility at an early proceeding, and he did not have a record. But we still have a very serious case and that's why he had to plead to a felony."

Singh's co-conspirator Khan is scheduled to appear in court next Tuesday morning for a pre-trial hearing.

Authorities claim Khan, 18, broke into the school using a stolen master key at least six times at night and on weekends between January and May.

He also allegedly hacked into computers and changed test scores, using passwords stolen from teachers and installed a software so that he could access the system from other locations.

Though Khan is accused primarily of changing his own grades, prosecutors allege that he altered the grades of 12 other students.

After being caught cheating on an English test on April 18 and given a failing grade, Khan broke into the Assistant Principal's locked office to steal the test back and conceal
evidence that he had cheated, prosecutors said.

In his last known burglary attempt in May, Khan plotted with his friend, Singh, to steal a copy of a test that was to be administered the following day, authorities said. The pair were caught by a night custodian as they were accessing a school computer.