Cybercrime, also known as internet crime, is a term that can encompass many different actions committed online—such as internet fraud, hacking, cyberstalking, downloading or sharing child pornography, and others.
Cybercrime prosecution
Depending on the type of crime committed and whether it affected someone in another state, an individual who has been accused of committing a cybercrime will be charged in either a federal or state court.
The majority of internet crimes are charged as misdemeanors, as long as no one has been injured and less than $950 worth of services or software has been affected by the crime. At the most, misdemeanor cybercrimes can result in penalties of one year in jail and a fine of no more than $5,000.
If more than $950 is involved, a cybercrime will then be considered a felony charge, and if convicted, the individual may have to spend up to 3 years in jail and have to pay a fine of up to $10,000.
If the cybercrime is internet fraud, restitution payments to the victims may be required by the court in addition to the previously-mentioned penalties.
If the cybercrime includes sexual misconduct with a minor, the convicted individual may have to register on the state sex offender list for his or her entire lifetime.
Defense strategies
Having a lawyer who specializes in cybercrime defense is an incredibly important asset, no matter how minor or serious the charge may be. If you’re dealing with a cybercrime charge anywhere in Southern California, call Dan Chambers of the Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 as soon as possible after your arrest.
Cybercrime defense attorney Dan Chambers has successfully dealt with internet crime charges during his decades-long career, and he will know just what to do for your particular case to ensure the ideal outcome, whether it’s securing the dismissal of the charges entirely, unequivocally proving your innocence, or negotiating a lighter sentence. Each case is different because each defendant’s circumstances are different, but you can always count on Dan Chambers to fight for your best interests.
One defense strategy Dan Chambers employs frequently on behalf of his valued clients is lining up a strong measure of doubt in the judge or jury’s minds about who actually committed the cybercrime. It can be incredibly difficult for prosecutors to prove that a certain individual accessed a certain computer at a particular time and performed a certain crime, and Dan Chambers leans on that uncertainty to attack the prosecutor’s inability to prove his or her case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Another often-successful defense strategy he might employ is providing persuasive character references that back up the fundamental idea that you’re a good, upstanding person who would never purposefully harm someone over the internet or in-person.
Intent is sometimes also an important piece of the cybercrime defense strategy. If Dan Chambers can prove to the court that it was never your intention to illegally access computers or files in a hacking case, or that it was never your intention to harass anyone in terms of a cyberstalking case, this defense strategy could result in the dismissal or downgrading of the charges against you.
Schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation with Southern California’s best cybercrime criminal defense attorney, Dan Chambers of the Chambers Law Firm today by calling 714-760-4088. You’ll get to speak with him directly during your appointment, and he’ll be glad to start developing a rock-solid defense strategy for your case right away.
