Alright today I was suspended from school, my netbook (school laptop) broke and I brought it in to the tech office and they were going to fix it, I had games and other stuff on there that I got on there via flash drive, and I also tried downloading proxy software (it required a admin pass) so I deleted it. (but it stayed in my deleted files and they found it.) Now they suspect that I hacked the school, and that I know the admin password, logs say that I did use it on 10/12/11 or something, But I suspect that there was a update, and I needed a teacher to put in the pass and they put the pass in the wrong thing and succesfully downloaded the proxy...

I got a call today saying I may face expulsion or even felony charges, I did not hack/use the admin password, but I feel like I have no voice, no matter what I tell them they insist that I used a admin password, is there anything in law to help resist this? Or anything else? (not in law)

What do you suggest I do?

I am 14 btw, any suggestions guys?

Which State...?

Michigan

Do you have past records or anything like that?

Are you sure it's a real threat? A lot of times (I won't say most times because I can't for certain say how often it is the case) when such things happen the school will threaten such things as felony charges and expulsion to, in a sense, "scare the kid straight". A lot of times, unless you've caused significant trouble for them in the past, they just want you to realize "we coulda done this to you, now go serve your suspension and don't complain".

Some questions to consider when going through such a thing are:
Have you been in significant trouble in the past at your school?
Do you know anyone else that's been in similar trouble there?
If so, how was it handled with them?

Above all, act mature, and be completely honest. Even if your intention when downloading the program thingy (I'm not good with technology, sorry lol) was to hack or whatever they're saying, come right out with it and say you considered it but chose not to, and that's why it was thrown away, and that you love your school and would never try to hurt it blah blah blah. Be completely honest, but sucking up/bullshitting can't hurt unless its blatant or dishonest

Edit:
My friends were the type to get in this sort of trouble at school lol. Another suggestion I have if your parents are on your side and willing to do anything to help is, YOU act mature and responsible, and PARENTS act completely obnoxious, loud, storm into the principles office, threaten to sue for looking through your personal documents on your computer when they were only supposed to be fixing hardware, threaten to pull you out of school, etc. Generally obnoxious. Anything that could draw public eye and make the school look bad. Which is why threatening to pull you out or sue them is particularly effective.

Principles are more likely to listen to a parent's rants and raves, because the parent is much more capable of making them look bad. Also, as a bonus, it makes you look rational, friendly, and calm, so they're more likely to respect and listen to you.

I know that I can download things at my school computers, but I can't install them.

If you were able to download, but unable to install, then deleted, it should show like that.

There would be your evidence that you did not need an admin password.

(if your school computers work like this, I don't know how they work)

lul xD


just pe pure and say you didnt do it ... speak the same what you told to us with your Computer teacher and explaid that you couldnt use that software that wanted the password
dont worry you'll be fine
noone wants to suspend a 14 year old BD mod xD

Exactly, this is the way it is at my school, and I brought up that point several times, but they fail to hear me. My mother is going in on a rant tomorrow, and my dad is prepared to help me repeal anything if they approve the suspension in there hearing.

But I looked up a few of my rights, and they didn't follow all of protocol and it says they can suspend me and take me out of class if I am distracting or a threat to the other students (which I am not.) So I don't think suspension was the proper action.

Appeal the case and request they show logs that show that YOU put this password in. They will not be able to produce any meaningful evidence if you genuinely didn't. (If your teacher did then you can use that as a reasonable line of defence, the teacher in question will likely back you up)

Also, footnote: Even if you had used an admin password, that's definitely not a felony. The fact that they even told you it might be is, in itself, a felony (unless it's true). So it may be worth demanding to know exactly what felony you have committed and which legal adviser they got that information from, because them making a statement like that (and I'm assuming it wasn't said formally, by a lawyer) is intimidation and threatening behaviour.

As others have said, i don't think its illegal. Suspension wasn't right.



That^

It must say if you typed in the password, and like tom said, it isn't a felony to use the Admin password, its a felony to say it if its untrue.