Brigham Young University-Idaho student Jacob Espinal was charged with felony computer fraud and grand theft after it was discovered he had changed his grades which resulted in him winning a scholarship. He was sentenced to five years of probation and 180 days in county jail.
"Basically he stole a spot in the university from somebody, stole grades that he didn't earn, stole credit [he] didn't earn and potentially damaged the reputation of the university," Seventh Judicial District Judge Greg Moeller said.
Espinal worked at BYU-Idaho's records and registration office, through which student grades were made accessible to him. He was discovered after school officials reported a notable difference in his transcript, turning "him from a failing pre-med student to a straight A student" in 2013 and 2014.
Espinal confessed after being contacted by police.
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