Norwalk Computer Crimes Lawyer
Getting charged with a computer crime is a serious matter that could lead to life-changing consequences depending on how your case plays out. A seasoned Norwalk computer crimes lawyer could give you much better chances of establishing your side of the story and pursuing a positive resolution.
How Does State Law Define Computer Crimes?
The term computer crime actually has a specific definition under Connecticut state law—or rather, several definitions, all of which are codified in Connecticut General Statutes §53a-251. According to this section of state law, any of the following actions may constitute a computer crime and justify a criminal charge in the eyes of law enforcement:
- Accessing a computer system without authorization
- Interrupting or degrading computer services for other users
- Destroying physical computer equipment or hardware
- Accessing computer services without payment or authorization
- Misusing computer data by taking, distributing, altering, damaging, or deleting it without permission
This statute is merely a definition list of what constitutes a computer crime, there are five additional laws —C.G.S. §§53a-252 through 53a-256— which spell out the specific charges based off of the alleged financial loss.
Computer crimes in the fifth and fourth degrees involve less than $1,000 of damage and are misdemeanor offenses, while computer crimes in the third through first degree involve over $1,000 of damage and are classified as felonies. A Norwalk computer crimes attorney could provide crucial assistance with understanding and effectively fighting back against any level of computer crime charge.
Can I Contest Computer Crime Allegations in Norwalk?
State law only establishes one affirmative defense for computer crimes, and it only applies to one specific variant of this offense. According to C.G.S. §53a-251(b)(2), a court cannot convict a person of accessing a computer system without authorization if that person genuinely believed they had authorization to access that system or could not have reasonably known their access was restricted.
Outside of that exceptional situation, most effective defense strategies for computer crime charges revolve around showing either that the alleged conduct did not actually occur or that the value of harm it caused—and/or financial gain it allowed for the defendant—was not as high as the prosecution claims it is. A cybercrimes lawyer in Norwalk could discuss what course of action might be best for a particular case during a confidential consultation.
Consider Working with a Norwalk Computer Crimes Attorney
If you want to protect your best interests in the wake of this kind of charge, hiring a knowledgeable Norwalk computer crimes lawyer is virtually essential. Call today to learn more from our highly reviewed lawyers. You can read some of those reviews by clicking this link to head to Avvo.com.