NWS Eric Walstrom

Student Eric Walstrom, 16, of Mobile Avenue in New Dorp, was charged with hacking into computers at New Dorp High School and also the City Department of Education. (Facebook photo)

(Facebook)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New Dorp High School students called for leniency Friday for one of their classmates who was arrested and charged with hacking into student records and changing his own grades.

Eric Walstrom, of Mobile Avenue in New Dorp, was arrested and charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors for accessing school and Department of Education (DOE) computers between Dec. 14 and Feb. 9, according to allegations in court documents.

The 16-year-old student had access to all student records at New Dorp High School and also city DOE computers when he raised his own grades by hacking his school's computer system, authorities allege.

He had access to personal information about his fellow students at New Dorp High School, court documents state, although there is no indication that he used that identity data for his personal gain.

Charges against Walstrom include felony counts of forgery and computer trespass.

Arrested at 12:25 p.m. on Wednesday inside the 120 Precinct stationhouse in St. George, Walstrom had a hearing before Judge Alan J. Meyer on that same day in Stapleton Criminal Court. He was released on his own recognizance.

The DOE said the school also took disciplinary action against the teen, but could not provide specifics, citing privacy issues.

But as word of Walstrom's arrest spread around the school Friday, some of Walstrom's peers said they hoped his punishment would not be punitive, but in some way involve use of his considerable computer skills for the good.

"What he did was wrong, and there has to be a consequence, especially if he broke the law, but he obviously has skills and knowledge that could be used for something good," said New Dorp freshman Sydney Kabassakis, of New Dorp.

"Not every kid has the skills to do what he did. Instead of punishing him in a way that could ruin his life, he should be given a chance to do something constructive with his skills," said New Dorp student Nour Elgamal, of Dongan Hills, a freshman.

"Maybe he could even work on the school website, or something," she suggested.