Computer Crime Attorney
 in Fort Bend County

Serving Clients in the Greater Houston Area for over a Decade

A few decades ago, the concept of needing a criminal defense lawyer dedicated to computer crimes would have been mind-boggling. However, with the increasing development of technology, cybercrime has become so advanced that many people are rightly terrified by the idea of having their identities, money, and private information stolen by online criminals. Federal and state governments have also set much stricter laws and consequences, in hopes of deterring hackers from illegally accessing and dispersing confidential information.

Call us today at (713) 766-1445 or contact us online to get a free consultation for your defense against computer crime accusations.

While these laws are crucial to keep us safe, they can also pose serious problems if we accidentally behave in a way that crosses online legal boundaries. Without even knowing it, we might easily download and spread malware, click on links that are not legitimate sites, or even accidentally connect to dangerous trafficking or pornographic material. Suddenly, by no fault of your own, you could become a victim of others’ online criminal activity.

Although you may be completely innocent, suddenly you are held responsible, simply because the complex electronic traces seem to lead back to you. In such a situation, it is necessary to find a skilled computer crime lawyer in Fort Bend County as soon as possible. The Sims Law Firm, PLLC is ready to lend a hand with even the most complex types of computer crime allegations.

What Are the Different Types of Computer & Internet Crimes?

At our firm, we tackle many different sorts of computer crimes. While every case is individual, many courts have taken to classifying these occurrences into common categories.

We have successfully defended victims accused about crimes from every one of these groups, including:

• Accessing someone else’s computer or network without permission
• Visitation of illegal websites
• Solicitation performed on the internet
• Solicitation of a minor
• Identity theft
• Online fraud
• Hacking of laptops, computers, and handheld devices
• Sexual or emotional exploitation of a minor or vulnerable person
• Child Pornography

What Are the Penalties for Texas Cyber Crimes?

A charge for breach of computer security (i.e. gaining access to another person’s computer without his/her consent) could range from a Class B misdemeanor or up to a first-degree felony depending on the circumstances of the offense. A Class B misdemeanor is punishable by jail term of up 180 days and a maximum fine $2,000, while a first-degree felony carries a lifetime prison sentence and a fine no more than $10,000.

Online solicitation of a minor is a third-degree felony; however, if the minor is younger than 14 years of age, it is a second-degree felony. A third-degree felony can lead to a maximum prison term of 10 years and a fine not exceeding $10,000, while a second-degree felony can result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of the same amount.

Online harassment of another may considered to be a categorized as criminal in the Texas Penal Code.

Getting Online Consent

One of the most complex challenges for people using the internet is that of acquiring legal consent to re-share and repost content. Often, the guidelines for posting are vague and unclear, or even change depending on the public media or platform being used. As a result, it becomes easy for people to accidentally post or access content without the original user’s consent.

In some cases, however, you may even have the consent of the owner, except that it turns out the actor was not authorized to legally even give consent. This may be because the user or owner is underage, or due to mental disability or disease, or even under the influence of alcohol or drugs, was not able to properly give consent. In other cases, consent given by the owner may have been purposefully or accidentally taken from a previous owner. These are just a few examples of the complications involved in consent cases, made even more challenging by the fact that many users are anonymous or use false identification.

Experience You Can Trust

The multiple complications of a computer crime defense can feel overwhelming, but remember that you are not alone. Our seasoned computer crime attorney in Fort Bend County are highly trained for these complex situations, and skilled in tackling both state and federal law.

Contact us now at (713) 766-1445 so The Sims Law Firm, PLLC can defend you in any computer-related crime today.