HOUSTON -- A high school student is facing criminal charges for allegedly hooking a device up to a teacher's computer to steal test information to sell to other students, Local 2 reported Tuesday.

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See How Keystroke Decoder Works

The student attended Clements High School, 4200 Elkins Dr., in the Fort Bend Independent School District.

Officials said the 16-year-old boy hooked up a keystroke decoder to a teacher's computer and downloaded exams in November.

"Sometime in mid-December, we got a tip that this student was selling test exams that had apparently come from a teacher's computer, so that's when the investigation began," said Mary Ann Simpson, with the Fort Bend School District.

The student confessed when he was confronted, officials said.

The keystroke decoder is widely available at computer stores and on the Internet. It records every keystroke in data that can be downloaded later. It attaches between the computer and the keyboard.

"It's surprisingly simple -- to the point our police department is now on alert to other district area police departments to make them aware," Simpson said.

Police in the Spring Branch Independent School District and the Katy Independent School District sent out alerts Tuesday about the device.

"We felt that it was very important that we get this message out to our teachers because what happens down (in Fort Bend) is happening here," said Chief Chuck Brawner, with the Spring Branch ISD.

The alleged hacker was sent to an alternative school. The Fort Bend District Attorney is investigating the case.

The boy has been charged with a Class B misdemeanor -- breach of computer information. The penalty is a fine of $2,000 or 180 days in jail.