The internet is a part of our everyday lives now, from work to play, from computer to television. The legal system has recognized this fact, and there are now a multitude of laws governing acceptable and lawful online behavior. Internet crime charges can be serious, and may involve steep penalties if you are convicted. If you are facing criminal accusations related to alleged online activity, you need a competent defense attorney by your side in the courtroom. If you would like to discuss your case with an internet crime defense lawyer, Okabe and Haushalter can help. Contact us to learn more about your legal rights and options.
Some internet crimes are “new” and were put on the books as the internet age developed into what it is today. Other internet crimes are old offenses wearing a new mask: for example, extortion and identity theft. Many internet crimes are federal offenses, meaning they would be prosecuted in the federal court because they break laws put forth in the U.S. Code rather than breaking state laws laid out in the California Penal Code. Some common internet crimes include:
At Okabe and Haushalter, we can defend against all types of internet crimes.
Punishments for those convicted of internet crimes vary according to the type of crime committed and the value of any data affected by the alleged crime.
If someone hacks an administrative computer at a hospital and infects it with a virus that causes patient files to become corrupted, the extent of the damage to the data (and the monetary value assigned to that data) would be taken into consideration during sentencing. The malicious intent behind corrupting a hospital computer’s data and its potential impact on public safety and patient privacy would cause this crime to be punished rather severely, including large fines and incarceration in a correctional facility.
If someone cracks the code to an acquaintance’s social media account and posts a humorous status update as a joke, they could be charged with a crime. Although the cracking of a friend’s social media account does not pose any threat to the public, it is still illegal to access an online account that is not yours, and if the friend pressed charges, the person who did the cracking could face legal penalties (albeit likely far less severe than those faced in the prior scenario).
If you are being charged with an online crime or other computer-related criminal offense and need an internet crime defense lawyer in Rolling Hills, the attorneys at Okabe and Haushalter can assist you with your case. Our team of knowledgeable legal professionals is criminal defense specialists well-versed in laws related to internet crimes. We use aggressive defense strategies to get results in the courtroom, and we would like the opportunity to put our skills to work for you. Contact us today for a no-cost evaluation of your case.