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Student Charged With Hacking Grades on School Computers for Money

by Amar Toor on March 8, 2011 at 11:10 AM

Tyler CoynerPolice in Nevada have arrested a 19-year-old college student, accusing him of hacking into his high school's computer system and inflating students' grades in exchange for money.

The suspect, Tyler Coyner, allegedly obtained the password to Pahrump Valley High School's network, giving him the ability to change students' grades. Coyner, who is currently enrolled as a student at the University of Nevada, is believed to have led a group of 13 other students involved in the operation, all of whom now face charges of conspiracy, theft and computer intrusion. When police raided the 19-year-old's dorm room, they found a stolen LCD TV, as well as equipment used to print fake driver's licenses.

According to the Nye County Sheriff's Department, Coyner boosted about a dozen high school grade point averages over the course of two semesters, including his own. As a student at Pahrump Valley, he finished with a 4.54 GPA, earning him the honor of class salutatorian, and the opportunity to give a speech at his high school graduation. "I changed for the better, learning what it meant to be a student at PVHS and taking initiative in completing assigned work," the student said, during the address. "Well, sort of."

Tags: arrest, college, crime, GPA, grades, hacking, high school, HighSchool, nevada, school, security, students, top, tyler coyner, TylerCoyner

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