How in the wrong is the person in this fictional scenario of writing a paper for someone else?
So yeah, for the sake of honesty, this is not something I've actually done, this is purely for something I plan to write. So, with that out of the way, let's get into the situation.
So, in my writing, the main character, J, as a teenager (son of a literature professor) was approached by this rich jerk kid D and offered two thousand dollars to write an essay for him that could help him out (this part takes place before A.I. took off). Now, J's parents made it clear to him that plagiarism and such are effectively cardinal sins, and J does not intend for the paper to actually get D anywhere. So, he writes something that makes it clear as day that it's stolen work because he knows D won't actually read the paper before handing it in. So, he collects his money, gives D the essay, and goes on his way. Naturally, D is exposed as a fake and tries to say that J screwed him over, but J didn't sign the paper itself or anything and says D is just mad he got caught cheating. Now, as a way of telling what he thinks is a story of laser guided karma, regales his professor parent with the story. But the parent is rather pissed, actually, and makes J admit it and give back the money.
My question is this: How much did J actually do wrong?
The money part of it is fairly clear cut to me; J conned him out of a big sum and making him give back every cent makes sense. But in regards to the paper, J didn't do it to help D actually get ahead in life on something he didn't deserve. If he had, I could see the professor parent being rightfully upset. But considering he didn't actually help D cheat, it doesn't seem as bad. What do you teachers see that I'm not?
To clarify, J's parents aren't nearly as mad as if J had written the paper to earnestly advance D, but I feel like there should be a reason for them to still be upset outside of the money thing.