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Internet Crimes Carry Heavy Penalties

Okabe & Haushalter Sep 7, 2018 Internet Crime

When you are charged with a crime, it can be terrifying. It can be even scarier when that crime involves the Internet.

Why?

Because, Internet crimes often enter the realm of federal charges along with state charges, because technically, the crime crosses state lines. This can mean serious prison time because most federal crimes have mandatory sentences.

They are harder to negotiate and you absolutely cannot rely on a public defender.

State charges can be difficult enough to handle, but judges point out that federal Internet crimes are a challenge for them because of the US sentencing guidelines.

This story from The Hill says that “in the realm of cybercrime, those guidelines are extremely broad and carry still penalties.”

If charged with a federal crime, there is little wiggle room for punishments. If you find yourself facing these kinds of charges, securing a good internet crimes defense attorney in Los Angeles is a must.

What Are Internet Crimes?

Internet crimes cover a broad range of criminal behavior that can happen online. Here are a few examples:

Child Pornography

This is perhaps the most well-known type of Internet crime. If you find yourself charged with possession, distribution, or manufacturing child pornography, your life will be turned upside down. These charges usually result in the public determining guilt before any kind of trial.

Beating a child pornography charge can be difficult, but with skilled legal representation, the damage can be minimized.

You do not want to face a stiff prison sentence or a lifetime requirement to register as a sex offender.

Identity Theft

The Internet has opened new ways for identity theft to take place and law enforcement takes these cases very seriously. Being accused of identity theft can be scary because state penalties are stiff – up to 20 years in prison.

Cyberbullying and Hate Crimes

Being accused of cyberbullying or committing a hate crime online can be hard to deal with. The rise of social media has allowed every word we write to become public. If you write something online that has been misconstrued to be bullying or a hate crime, then you will need legal help to clear up the misunderstanding.

Do not let someone else take your words out of context. You should not be sent to prison if you did not mean any harm.

Stalking

The Internet has given us many ways to keep track of our friends and family, but it has also allowed people to claim they are being stalked.

Imagine sending a private social media message to an ex-girlfriend or boyfriend and then finding yourself charged with stalking.

It can happen, and you will need help if it does.

What To Do Now

When you need an internet crimes defense attorney in Los Angeles, turn to Okabe & Haushalter. They are nationally recognized and award-winning criminal defense attorneys who will fight by your side.

When you are charged with an Internet crime, you need to act quickly to start building your defense case. The team at Okabe & Haushalter understands the laws that go into these charges and can navigate both the state and federal systems.

Contact us today by clicking here or calling 310-430-7799 for a free consultation.