WESTWOOD : UCLA Student Sentenced in Exam Theft Case

A UCLA student arrested on suspicion of trying to steal a final exam from an economics professor’s office has been sentenced to 20 days on a graffiti-removal crew and ordered to resign from his fraternity, authorities said.

West Los Angeles Municipal Commissioner Gary Bindman imposed the sentence on Noah Ram Balch, 19, a Carlsbad native who lives on the UCLA campus, after Balch pleaded no contest to one count of trespassing, Deputy Dist. Atty. Larry Webster said.

Balch was also placed on two years’ probation, the conditions of which require him to resign from the Sigma Nu fraternity and cooperate in any investigation into the fraternity’s activities, Webster said.

The commissioner imposed the probation conditions after Balch told investigators that the key he used to enter the professor’s office shortly after midnight Dec. 14 was a “legacy key” that had been handed down in the fraternity, Webster said.

Phone calls to the fraternity house were unanswered Wednesday.

Balch also was sentenced to three days in jail, which he has served, the prosecutor said.

Investigators said the professor was working late at his Bunche Hall office when Balch entered, using the key. The professor confronted Balch, who allegedly gave a false name, surrendered the key and left.

About 12 hours later, the professor recognized Balch among students taking the final exam and pointed him out to police, who took him into custody, investigators said.

A UCLA spokeswoman said the university will conduct its own investigation to determine if any academic sanctions, possibly including expulsion, will be imposed.