Internet Offenses

What are Internet Offenses?

Computer crime is any crime that either targets a computer without authorization, or in which someone uses a computer to commit a crime. These include:

• Access for fraudulent purposes, such as to fraudulently obtain goods or services of any kind.
• Data theft, in which a person accesses, copies, damages, or alters information they don’t have permission to use.
• Child pornography, including creating, possessing or transmitting images that portray child pornography.

Internet crime laws punish illegal activity that involves the internet in some way, such as through emails or websites, as well as using the internet to commit identity theft or other forms of fraud. These include:

• Luring or soliciting children to engage in a sexual act (where “children” is defined as a person under a specific age, typically 18)
• Harassment, stalking, bullying or making criminal threats against someone.
• Using a computer to fraudulently deprive someone else of property.

What are the consequences of an Internet Offense charge?

The penalties if you are found guilty of an internet offense may include substantial fines, and imprisonment.

What are some defenses to an Internet Offense charge?

Possible defenses to these charges vary, based on the circumstances. For example, if communications are only by email and not in person, one participant may be unaware of the age of the other, despite whatever may be said in the communication.

Contacting a criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles

If you are accused of an internet offense, you should contact Ken Behzadi immediately to learn more about your rights, your defenses, and the legal system process.