By Marci Piltz
Record-Courier staff writer
An honor student suspended for allegedly hacking into a Theodore Roosevelt High School teacher"s computer is now suing the school district and teacher.
Shi "Carl" Huang, 17, is a senior Advanced Placement student at the Kent high school. Earlier this school year, he was suspended for five days and given a failing grade after a friend uncovered a password allowing Huang to access an upcoming biology test.
In addition to the suspension, the school district has filed a criminal charge of unauthorized use of property against Huang in juvenile court.
Huang and his parents, Housan and Nianyua Huang, filed a lawsuit in Portage County Common Pleas Court. Named as defendants in the suit are the school district, teacher James Zagray, Superintendent Marc Crail, Assistant Superintendent Joseph Giancola, Principal Roger Sidoti and Assistant Principal Arden Sommers.
The suit alleges Huang, who is in the U.S. on a student visa, had asked Zagray for help in the class but was denied help or specialized counseling. The suit further alleges that a Web site Zagray had set up to help students study was later blocked for access by students.
The suit alleges Zagray then set a trap by using Huang"s nickname, "Carl," as a new password after "suspecting Shi might try to cheat on the next exam."
"The trap worked," the suit says.
On Feb. 13, six school authorities met with Huang and after hearing Huang"s story, suspended him for inappropriate use of technology, violation of school statutes, giving inappropriate and false information to school staff and lack of educational intent.
Reached for comment Wednesday, Crail said he could not say much about the case because of the lawsuit.
"We think it"s without merit and we"re certain that we will prevail," he said. "The young man received a five-day suspension for cheating. I think it was appropriate, so we"ll move on and I"m sure in the end everything will work out to the district"s advantage."
Shi Huang is still a student at Roosevelt and will graduate in a month, Crail said.
An investigation by the Kent State University Police Department led to the filing of the juvenile charge, which is a fifth-degree felony, according to the complaint.
The Huangs allege in their suit that Shi Huang is "receiving far harsher discipline" than other students and also allege Huang"s rights were violated by school officials following the incident.
Huang is scheduled to be arraigned today on the criminal charge in Portage County Juvenile Court.
Staff writer Dave O"Brien contributed to this story.