7 Lake Norman High students charged in computer breach

Seven Lake Norman High students were charged with misdemeanor accessing computers without authorization after an on-campus computer system breach.

At least one student manipulated his school-issued laptop to access the administrative password, which allowed him to access other students’ computers while on campus, Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said Tuesday.

Directions on how to access the administrative password were passed to other students, who also gained access through their school-issued laptops, the sheriff said.

The students also manipulated files on their computers and activated webcams on other students’ computers while on campus, Campbell said.

No personal student data, testing materials or grades appear to have been altered, but the potential was there had the Iredell-Statesville Schools’ IT department not quickly stopped the breach, the sheriff said. A new password and security procedures were put into place, he said.

The school system reported the breach to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 1.

After an investigation, the students were suspended from school.

Edmund Martin Jr., 17, Gregory Matthew Torney, 17, Jake Donnelley Leffew, 18, Grayson Noble Baker, 16, and Joshua Stephen Miller, 17, all of Mooresville, were arrested Thursday and Friday. They must appear in court Nov. 10.

Juvenile petitions were filed against two 14-year-old males.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 12:31 PM with the headline "7 Lake Norman High students charged in computer breach."