Student Arrested For Allegedly Changing Grades
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- An 18-year old student appeared before a judge Friday after he was arrested for allegedly changing grades for students in a Northwest Miami-Dade school.
Miami School Board Police arrested Jose Bautista on Thursday after the principal turned him in. He faces charges of intellectual property offense, modifying programs and an offense against computer users.
The senior was set to graduate with his class at the end of the month.
Bautista allegedly accessed the school's grading system, changed his report card and at least 4 other students grades as well as other information at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, according to his arrest report.
Friends whose grades were also reportedly altered said that Bautista approached them at the beginning of the year, up until February, and asked if they wanted their grades changed.
The schools principal told police Bautista gave him a written confession.
"That was taking it to an extreme," said Krop senior Alberto Bendjouia. "I was surprised, it's the end of the year and grades are going in, for a kid to do something like that I guess he felt he had to."
On Friday, a judge set Bautista's bond at $20,000 and ordered him to be placed under house arrest with a GPS monitor. He has since been released from jail.
Bautista's aunt and grandfather said he is a hard working student and a good kid.
Miami-Dade Schools released a statement saying, "The school district takes incidents like this very seriously. In addition to the arrest and ongoing criminal investigation, the Code of Student Conduct provides for corrective strategies up to and including recommendation for expulsion."
It is unclear if Bautista will be allowed to graduate.
It is still under investigation if the other students who reportedly had their grades changed will face any punishment.
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