Los Angeles Cyberbullying Defense Lawyer

Los Angeles Cyberbullying Defense Attorney

Cyberbullying & Internet Crime Charges

With widespread access to the internet in schools, homes, libraries, and a variety of public areas, children and teenagers have taken to bullying their peers through cyberspace. Cyberbullying involves one minor using the internet or another form of electronic communication to threaten, harass, humiliate, or torment another.

Cyberbullying has gained much media attention in recent years, with such tragic cases as the deaths of Phoebe Prince, Tyler Clementi, Megan Meier, Seth Walsh, Ryan Halligan, and other teenagers who were driven to suicide. These stories shed new light on the severe psychological damage cyberbullying can have on an adolescent, and legislators have taken action in an effort to prevent such occurrences.

Some common forms of cyberbullying include:

• Sending threatening or degrading emails, instant messages, or social media posts;
• Deceiving the victim into sharing personal or embarrassing information;
• Making the victim’s personal information public at school or online;
• Breaking into the victim’s email or other online accounts to steal or find out information;
• Impersonating the victim online by creating fake social networking profiles, including embarrassing information about the victim and encouraging others to post mean messages;
• Breaking into the victim’s account to send mean messages to others;
• Creating hurtful websites, groups, or posts about the victim; and
• Anonymously posting false information in online forums to spread rumors about the victim.

Is Cyberbullying Legally Considered A Crime?

Many children and parents alike believe that bullying is a normal part of growing up and do not take such actions seriously. It is important to understand, however, that cyberbullying can lead to criminal charges in some situations. In the state of California, under Penal Code §528.5, it is a crime to knowingly impersonate another person on the internet without their consent in order to intimidate, threaten, harm, or defraud.

Similarly, Penal Code §653.2(a) makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally place a victim in fear for their safety through the use of electronic communication, which causes the victim to be subjected to unwanted physical contact, harassment, or injury, as well as to spread or share personal information about them. A conviction for these crimes can result in imprisonment in a county jail for up to one year and/or a fine of up to $1000.

Cyberbullying can also lead to charges for such crimes as:

• Stalking: Threatening or harassing another to the point that the victim is fearful for their safety.
• Harassment: Generally, this involves the defendant threatening and harassing the victim through blog entries, social media posts, emails, and instant messages that are meant solely to torment.
• Criminal Threat: Threatening to physically harm or kill someone that reasonably places the victim in fear, and the threat is specific and direct.

Fight The Prosecution – Contact Okabe & Haushalter

The many stories of students who took their own lives as a result of online bullying have caused law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to be overzealous in their treatment of minors who taunted peers online. The public nature of these cases often leads District Attorneys to charge children with criminal offenses for picking on a classmate, which is why you must be sure your child’s rights and interests are protected if they have been accused of cyberbullying.

Our team at Okabe & Haushalter has defended countless clients against charges of internet crimes, and we are prepared to fight for your family. You need a determined attorney who will provide you with a powerful voice before the court and the aggressive advocacy needed to challenge these unfounded charges. Choose a criminal defense team that will fight for your child; call our firm today!