Woman hacks into school computer system, changes kids grades

A Pennsylvania woman faces six felony charges for hacking into a school’s computer system to change the grades of her children. 

Catherine Venusto, 45, hacked into the Northwestern Lehigh School District computer system and altered the grades of her two children, ABC News reports. 

Venusto had worked at the district as an administrative office secretary from 2008 through April, 2011. 

A year before she quit, Venusto, of New Tripoli, Penn., had been accused of changing her daughter’s failing grade to a medical exception. And in February, 2012, she was accused of changing her son’s 98 to a 99.

Venusto was arraigned this week on three counts of unlawful use of a computer and three counts of computer trespassing and altering data. All six of those charges are third degree felonies. State police said she admitted to changing the grades, but thought her actions were merely unethical— not illegal. 

According to District Attorney’s office spokeswoman Debbie Garlicki, Venusto could face up to 42 years in prison or a $90,000 fine if convicted.

It’s one thing to do your children’s homework for them. But when you decide to take matters into your own hands and change their grades yourself, well, that’s when law enforcement gets involved.

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