Cybercrime, formerly known as Computer Crime in Fort Collins and Larimer County, is charged when a person accesses a computer system without authorization or with the intent of modifying something to defraud. A retired principal and his former secretary are currently under investigation after allegations of Embezzlement and Grade-Fixing (Cybercrime) surfaced. According to the report, the principal and secretary are accused of stealing over $100,000 over a two-year period where they worked at a Colorado public high school. Police became involved after an anonymous tip was received. Through the investigation, the two were placed on leave, but later resigned after the principal wiped everything off his laptop. Personal spending was discovered, the money taken from fundraising accounts and district money funneled into an ‘offshore’ account. There were also allegations that the principal demanded teachers change student grades and when they refused, he went into the system and changed them anyways. Likely, he wanted to seem like his appointment to that school was increasing the passing and graduation rate. While no arrests have been made at this point, if the DA decides to move forward with the case, the principal will likely be charged with Theft, Destruction of Evidence, and Cybercrime.
Grade-Fixing Cyber Crime Attorney in Fort Collins: Definition of Cybercrime in Colorado
The Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Cybercrime – C.R.S. 18-5.5-102 – is:
(a) Accesses a computer, computer network, or computer system or any part thereof without authorization; exceeds authorized access to a computer, computer network, or computer system or any part thereof; or uses a computer, computer network, or computer system or any part thereof without authorization or in excess of authorized access; or
(b) Accesses any computer, computer network, or computer system, or any part thereof for the purpose of devising or executing any scheme or artifice to defraud; or
(c) Accesses any computer, computer network, or computer system, or any part thereof to obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, money; property; services; passwords or similar information through which a computer, computer network, or computer system or any part thereof may be accessed; or other thing of value; or
(d) Accesses any computer, computer network, or computer system, or any part thereof to commit theft; or
(e) Without authorization or in excess of authorized access alters, damages, interrupts, or causes the interruption or impairment of the proper functioning of, or causes any damage to, any computer, computer network, computer system, computer software, program, application, documentation, or data contained in such computer, computer network, or computer system or any part thereof; or
(f) Causes the transmission of a computer program, software, information, code, data, or command by means of a computer, computer network, or computer system or any part thereof with the intent to cause damage to or to cause the interruption or impairment of the proper functioning of or that actually causes damage to or the interruption or impairment of the proper functioning of any computer, computer network, computer system, or part thereof; or
(g) Uses or causes to be used a software application that runs automated tasks over the internet to access a computer, computer network, or computer system, or any part thereof, that circumvents or disables any electronic queues, waiting periods, or other technological measure intended by the seller to limit the number of event tickets that may be purchased by any single person in an online event ticket sale as defined in section 6-1-720, C.R.S.; or
(h) Solicits or offers to arrange a situation in which a minor may engage in prostitution, by means of using a computer, computer network, computer system, or any part thereof; or
(i) Directly or indirectly uses a scanning device to access, read, obtain, memorize, or store, temporarily or permanently, information encoded on the payment card without the permission of the authorized user of the payment card, and with the intent to defraud the authorized user, the issuer of the authorized user’s payment card, or a merchant; or
(j) Directly or indirectly uses an encoding machine to place information encoded on the payment card onto a different payment card without the permission of the authorized user of the payment card from which the information being reencoded was obtained, and with the intent to defraud the authorized user, the issuer of the authorized user’s payment card, or a merchant.
It’s likely the principal would be charged under subsection (b) for the grade-fixing. He accessed the grading system in order to defraud, improving student’s grades to improve his standing with the district.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Cybercrime in Fort Collins, Loveland, or Estes Park, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 to schedule a free initial consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
Photo by Andy Barbour