Parent charged in college admissions scandal agrees to plead guilty

One of the 33 parents charged in the college admissions scandal has pleaded guilty.

Peter Jan Sartorio, 53, who was accused of paying $15,000 for someone to correct his daughter’s ACT exam answers, announced the agreement on Wednesday according to the Associated Press. It was not clear what charges he pleaded guilty to.

Some defendants including “Desperate Housewives” actress Felicity Huffman and “Fuller House” actress Lori Loughlin also appeared in court Wednesday. People gathered outside the court cheered for Loughlin and shouted “pay my tuition.” Sartorio did not appear in court. 

Three people have reportedly pleaded guilty so far in the scandal, including admissions consultant Rick Singer and the former Yale women’s soccer coach Rudy Meredith.

{mosads}Last month, dozens of parents were charged in a bribery scheme in which they were accused of paying to falsify  their children’s entrance scores or otherwise help their children gain admission to prestigious universities including Yale, Stanford and the University of Southern California.

The news has sparked debate over the college admissions process and put a spotlight on legal ways that wealthy parents can pay to give their children an edge.