Every crime in California is defined by a specific code section. Our attorneys explain the law, penalties and best defense strategies for every major crime in California.
Crimes by Code
Every crime in California is defined by a specific code section. Our attorneys explain the law, penalties and best defense strategies for every major crime in California.
California DUI
DUI arrests don't always lead to convictions in court. Police officer mistakes, faulty breathalyzers and crime lab errors may get your charges reduced or dismissed. Visit our California DUI page to learn more.
Post Conviction
A criminal record can affect job, immigration, licensing and even housing opportunities. In this section, we offer solutions for clearing up your prior record.
24/7 Help:
(855) 999-7755
Please note: Our firm only handles criminal and DUI cases, and only in California. We do not handle any of the following cases:
And we do not handle any cases outside of California.
Call Us NowPosted on
Both state as well as federal laws prohibit various types of computer crimes. In some instances, a person can be charged for the same computer crime in both California as well as federal courts.
Some of the more common computer crimes in California include:
The California Penal Code criminalizes the unauthorized taking or copying of data and information from a computer, computer system, or computer network. Depending on the criminal history of the defendant and the specific facts of the crime, this computer crime can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor. A misdemeanor conviction for this crime could result in a jail term of up to a year. A felony conviction could result in up to three years in prison.
Hacking involves wrongfully accessing a computer or personal data on a computer without the owner’s permission. A conviction for this crime carries a potential sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
Phishing involves fraudulently obtaining personal information, such as login or credit card information by posing as a legitimate entity or agency. Phishing also includes sending a virus or malware link by email for the purpose of accessing another’s personal computer information. Potential penalties for a conviction range from three to fifteen years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and forfeiture of any personal property used or intended to be used to commit the offense.
Identity Theft: 18 U.S.C Section 1028, California Penal Code 530.5
In California, identity theft is usually charged as fraud under PC 530.5. However, an individual could be charged with a federal crime under 18 U.S.C Section 1028 if the theft of another’s identity is committed via the computer. Possible penalties for a federal identity theft conviction are the same as those convicted of phishing.
Electronic Harassment: California Penal Code 646.9
Electronic harassment, also referred to as cyberstalking, involves the use of the internet to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person through email or social media. Under California Penal Code Section 646.9, electronic harassment could be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. A misdemeanor electronic harassment conviction could result in a sentence of one year in jail. A felony cyberstalking conviction is punishable by up to five years in prison.
A California computer crime conviction has serious consequences. If you have been charged with a computer crime, contact us to protect your legal rights.
A former Los Angeles prosecutor, attorney Neil Shouse graduated with honors from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School (and completed additional graduate studies at MIT). He has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Dr Phil, The Today Show and Court TV. Mr Shouse has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Criminal and Top 100 Civil Attorneys.
Impersonating someone online can be a crime in California. Penal Code 529 PC is the California statute that defines the crime of false impersonation (also known as false personation). PC 529 makes it a crime for a person to personate someone falsely and to either: do another act that might cause the person being impersonated to ...
Internet crime is a broad category, since there are a variety of crimes that can be committed over the internet. Identity theft and computer hacking are two of the more common internet crimes. The federal computer fraud law that most directly relates to internet crime is the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), (18 U.S.C. 1030). ...
Computer crimes and cyber-crimes are getting a lot of attention lately from both law enforcement and the media. But people are still–justifiably–confused about just what kind of online behavior can land them in jail. Here’s a brief rundown of the most important cyber-bullying/cyber-harassment laws that ordinary people need to be aware of: Cyberstalking. There is technically ...
In a recent survey, 28% of Americans admitted they had directed malicious online activity at someone they didn’t know. In many cases, such activity is protected by the First Amendment. But in other cases, such activity can subject you to a lawsuit or a criminal prosecution. Malicious online activity takes various forms in California, including: Trolling, ...