A grade-changing, computer trespassing scandal in the local Fayetteville-Manlius school district now involves Syracuse University.

SU freshman and F-M alumnus James Robert Vanden Boom was arraigned on four felony charges and one misdemeanor Tuesday in Manlius Village Court, according to The Post-Standard.

Boom was allegedly involved with six current F-M students and another alumnus, now attending Johns Hopkins University, in a trespassing scandal with the goal of altering students’ grades. The apparent trespassing began last year, but the case’s breakthrough came Oct. 24. Three students were caught that day – one was in the process of allegedly stealing an electronic monitoring device from a computer, the newspaper reported.

The students apparently hacked into F-M’s computer system, which allowed them to access student records. The group allegedly viewed faculty’s personal records, administrative documents, tests and e-mails. Disciplinary records were also breached, according to News 10 Now.

F-M turned over information to the police regarding a more elaborate cheating scheme involving SATs and Advanced Placement exams, the television station reported.

Boom was arraigned on four felony charges for computer trespassing, second degree computer tampering, second degree forgery and first degree tampering with public records. His misdemeanor charge is for fifth degree conspiracy.

The students voluntarily turned themselves in and, while the district attorney sought bail, the judge let Boom and the high school students walk out of the courthouse on their own recognizance.

-compiled by Matt Reilly, asst. news editor

Published on November 6, 2007 at 12:00 pm