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Investigators say Khan and Singh broke into Tesoro High School in Rancho Santa Margarita to access school computers. The 18-year-old seniors allegedly changed their grades, advanced placement test scores and school records in an attempt to improve their college admission chances.
With two students facing prison time for allegedly cheating, the campus and students find themselves in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
"I never thought they would do that in their whole, like, life. This school is also, like, equipped with so many cameras and security here all the time. I mean, I just don't get how you could do it and why," said Tesoro High School student Ataya Seyhun.
Khan is facing the more serious charges. According to authorities, over the past few months the senior broke into the campus with a stolen master key, used teachers' passwords to access computers and changed his grades.
Khan is also accused of changing the grades of 12 other students and installing spyware to access the school's computer system from a remote location. If convicted on all the charges, he could get up to 38 years in prison.
Singh is also accused of attempting to change his grades. He's being charged with conspiracy, burglary, computer access and fraud, and attempted altering of public records. He's facing three years in prison if he is found guilty.
"We had some young men that did some things that really disappointed us. We're disappointed in their behavior and unfortunately it's impacting the last day for our seniors," said Principal Dr. Dan Burch. "It's not that widespread. It was a close-nit group of people."
School officials are now working to keep something like this from happening again.
Meanwhile, fellow students at Tesoro High can't believe the harsh punishment the two seniors are facing for their alleged crimes.
"Give him the grades that he has. They have paper trails, they should be able to find the real information and I don't think it's fair," said student Alexander Jimenez.
Tesoro High School has been honored in the past for its academic achievements. These honors are now being overshadowed by the alleged actions of two seniors accused of cheating to improve their grades.
Omar Khan posted bail on Tuesday. Tanvir Singh will be making his first court appearance later Wednesday.
Eyewitness News Reporters John Gregory and Eileen Frere contributed to this report.
