Internet Crimes

Defense Against Internet Crimes in Orange County

Prosecutors Pursue These Charges Quite Aggressively

Internet crime, sometimes called “cybercrime,” is not one specific crime. Rather, it’s more of an umbrella term that can apply to many specific charges, all of which involve the use of the internet. Some of these charges are state crimes while others are federal crimes. In some cases, charges can even be brought at both the state and federal level. Internet crimes can include, but are not limited to:

• Fraudulent schemes or internet scams
• Hacking
• Identity theft
• Internet sex crimes, such as downloading child pornography, solicitation, or luring a minor
• “Phishing” for sensitive data

Cybercrime as such did not exist until recent decades, but is now one of the largest and fastest growing types of criminal charges in California. Law enforcement and prosecutors pursue these charges quite aggressively. Often, there are special units that are devoted exclusively to prosecuting these types of crimes.

Given the fact that the other side is likely going to have an attorney with extensive experience prosecuting these types of crimes, it is imperative that you have a qualified defense attorney on your side. You need someone on your side, looking out for your best interest. Contact our office as soon as you have been charged with an internet crime to set up your free consultation.

A Significant Negative Impact on Your Personal and Professional Reputation

Depending on the circumstances, computer crimes can be charged at either the misdemeanor or the felony level. Regardless of the level of the charge, the consequences of a conviction can be significant and long-lasting. You are certainly facing expensive fines and time in county jail or in prison. You may also be facing mandatory lifetime registry on the sex offender list if the crime was an internet sex crime.

In addition to formal penalties, having an internet crimes conviction on your criminal record can have a significant negative impact on your personal and professional reputation. As the internet becomes ever more integrated into our lives both inside and outside of work, people do not trust individuals with a cybercrime on their record. Employers may be reluctant to hire or promote you, particularly if they have an online presence or if their employees access the internet on work servers as part of their duties. 

In today’s increasingly technological world the majority of employers rely on the internet, so having such a restriction may have a huge and ongoing impact on your professional mobility. If you’ve been charged with an internet crime in Orange County, don’t sit on your hands and do nothing while the prosecution continues to build a case against you. Instead, contact our office for a free consultation. We will go over the specifics of your situation and cover the options that may be available to you in your defense.