Every single day, new technologies and innovative advancements in the world of computer science has given criminals a wider scope of offenses to commit, known as “cyber crimes.” From piracy and fraud, to hacking, spam, viruses, and more, there are exponentially infinite ways a person can break the law on a computer. If you are one such individual unlucky enough to get caught committing a computer-based crime, there are also several types of penalties you might face if found guilty.
Continue reading to learn the levels of offenses surrounding computer crimes, and the common types of penalties that might result following a conviction in Indiana.
Here in Indiana, the state government has set forth certain statutes that protect individuals, companies, and organizations from damages caused by computer crimes. Not only can the offender be convicted and penalized under criminal law, the victim of the crime can pursue a civil lawsuit against an offender seeking restitution for their losses.
Overall, being charged with a cyber crime is a serious situation. Those arrested face either misdemeanor or felony charges depending on the scope and severity of their offense. For instance, most misdemeanor computer crimes are charged as a Class A Misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 1 year in jail, up to $5,000 in fines, and several other types of court-ordered penalties, such as probation, restitution, community service, and addiction rehabilitation.
In another example, computer tampering is a level 4 felony offense if it involves terrorism, or a Level 3 felony if the crime resulted in bodily harm to another person. Level 3 felonies are punishable up to 16 years in prison, up to $10,000 in fines, and several other court-ordered penalties like the ones mentioned above. Some felony computer crimes are even punishable by up to 20 years in prison or more.
Some of the most common types of computer crimes include:
? Hacking into Secure Networks
? Large-Scale Spam Operations
? Using a Computer to Defraud
? Corrupting Programs or Data
? Stealing Information
? Launching a Virus into a Computer System
? Falsifying Email Source Information
? Using Encryption to Assist a Crime
What To Do if You are Facing Cybercrime Charges in Indiana
If you do not already have a qualified and experienced criminal defense lawyer working on your cybercrime case, you need one right away.
Contact David E. Lewis, Attorney at Law, at 317-636-7514 to start building a strong and impactful defense against your Indiana computer crime charges so that you have a chance at avoiding the maximum penalties for your suspected cyber crimes. Our Indianapolis criminal defense law firm offers free initial consultations, so there are no out-of-pocket obligations to you.
