By Jeff Kennedy
If you are looking at a cybercrime charge, seeking help from a Fort Worth criminal defense attorney is your best bet to understanding the consequences you stand to face. Most importantly, an attorney could help you avoid conviction or get your charges reduced by building a defense for your case.
As technology continues to grow, so do the number of cybercrime charges and convictions. This is partly because with every waking day, cybercriminals keep finding new ways to carry out their malicious and fraudulent activities.
Another reason for these charges is because technology is relatively new ground for many people. When it comes to some computer crimes, such as copyright infringement, it’s completely possible for someone to commit them unknowingly and even unintentionally.
What Constitutes Cybercrime?
Cybercrime refers to any criminal activity that involves the use of a computer device, either as a tool, venue, or target. The most common forms of computer crimes happen over the internet, which is why they go by other names like hi-tech crimes and internet-related crimes.
They include identity theft, cyberbullying, credit card theft, distribution of child pornography, online sexual exploitation, stalking, disruption of service, unauthorized access to computer systems, and so on.
The Texas penal code for computer crimes outlines all the internet activities that fall under cybercrime. These laws are constantly changing as technology expands, so it’s important to seek legal counsel to make sure you’re taking informed actions.
Penalties for Cybercrime in Texas
Just like most criminal charges, the consequences of cybercrime are either jail time or a prison sentence—in this case, ones that can range anywhere from two years to life imprisonment.
The severity of your penalties will depend on factors like:
- Past convictions
- Any history of unlawful internet-related activities
- The type of computer crime
- Amount of money lost, if any
How Can I Fight Cybercrime Charges?
Fortunately, there’s a reprieve for a person who’s been wrongly accused or hoping for a favorable outcome for their case. There are several defenses you can use to plead for a less harsh penalty or dropping of the charges altogether.
- You Were Forced or under Duress – This may apply if you committed the criminal act under a threat of punishment or harm to you or your loved ones.
- Lack of or Insufficient Evidence – Remember, you are always innocent until proven guilty. If the state authority cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the act, your lawyer can cite this to reduce or throw out your charges.
- Mistaken Identity – In some cases you can also show that someone else used your device or network to commit the crime in question, something that’s common and easily possible.
Contact a Cybercrime Defense Lawyer Now
Have you been charged with a computer crime that you are not certain how and whether you even committed? A Fort Worth cybercrime lawyer at The Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy is ready to talk about your case and what your defense lawyer can do to help you.
Get started by calling 817-605-1010 to understand exactly what you stand to lose and the defenses you can use to fight these charges. You can also fill the contact form at the bottom of this page and someone will get back to you.
