From correspondents in New York, United States, 12:30 AM IST

An Indian American teenager, charged with hacking his school's computer system along with a fellow student in June to change test scores, has been sentenced to three years probation and 200 hours of community service in a deal by a court in southern California.

Tanvir Singh, 18, and Omar Khan, 18, were together charged with 73 felony counts, including hacking into the computer system of their school, Tesoro High in Orange County, stealing tests and changing grades.

Both had earlier pleaded not guilty at the court. But after the plea deal with the prosecutors, Singh pleaded guilty before the court Wednesday to one count each of felony and misdemeanour.

Consequently, three other felony counts against him were dropped and he would be called to testify against his alleged co-conspirator, Khan, believed to be the mastermind of the plot.

Singh's 'participation in the crime was less serious', Susan Schroeder from the Orange County District Attorney's Office was quoted as saying by San Jose Mercury News.

Authorities claim that Khan broke into the school using a stolen master key at least six times at night and on weekends between January and May this year.

He also allegedly hacked into computers and changed test scores, using passwords stolen from teachers and installed a software so that he could access the system from other locations.

Though Khan is accused primarily of changing his own grades, prosecutors allege that he altered the grades of 12 other students.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)