Criminal Threats
Is Prank Calling Illegal? When Can A Harmless Joke Turn Criminal?
Is Prank Calling Illegal? Prank calling can seem like harmless fun, but depending on what’s said, it may turn into a criminal offense. If you or someone you know has been charged with prank calling in California, it’s important to understand the implications and punishments that could come with this crime. Choosing Wallin & Klarich to represent your case puts you in a better position to receive the best outcome…
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Erasing the Past: How Clearing Your Browser History Could Land You in Prison
Khairullozhon Matanov could have said nothing. Instead, the 24-year-old taxi driver voluntarily told police what he knew about his friends Tamerlan and Dhzokhar Tsarnaev, the two brothers who set off bombs near the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon. He told police he had dinner with the Tsarnaev brothers the night of the bombing, but lied about some of the other aspects of his relationship to the brothers. Matanov…
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Common Internet Crimes
With constantly advancing technology and the increasing number of internet users, the number of internet crimes committed has also increased in recent years. Internet users engage in various activities daily, and some of these activities could unintentionally lead to criminal charges. Some people use the internet to commit crimes intentionally, and many of these crimes don't even make it to the headlines. The normal internet user is not even aware…
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Do Police Need a Warrant to Search Your Internet History in California?
Under current law, law enforcement cannot simply search your or your property in most cases. In order to conduct a valid search, police must seek a search warrant. However, a warrant can only be issued if there is probable cause to search you or your property. Unfortunately, this same protection does not extend to electronic communication information or electronic device information. In other words, your mailbox is protected more than…
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Think Twice Before Posting on Instagram, It Could be Used to Convict you of a Crime
While most users’ Instagram pages consist of snapshots of gourmet meals, tropical vacations, and #nofilter selfies, other individuals have instead gone with a potentially incriminating approach that could be admitted as evidence against them in a court of law. The following examples explain why you need to be careful what you post on social media, because it could lead to facing serious legal consequences. How an Instagram Post Sent a…
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Could the Sony Hackers Face Federal Charges?
Recently, a Reddit user posted that the Guardians of Peace (GOP) had hacked Sony Pictures Entertainment.1 Within days, news media outlets reported that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) was actively investigating the Sony servers breach and hinting that North Korea could be involved as the country had denounced the release of the Sony film “The Interview.” The hacker group allegedly stole an estimated 100 TB of emails, movies,…
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Revenge Porn Law Passed in California
Publishing nude photos online with the "intent to cause serious emotional distress or humiliation" violates a revenge porn law signed Monday by California Governor Jerry Brown. Gov. Brown signed Senate Bill 255 (SB 255) into law, officially banning persons from publishing nude photos of others online without their permission in California. The bill was sponsored by State Senator Anthony Cannella. It passed despite opposition from civil liberties advocates including the…
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Impersonating Another Person Online is Now a Punishable Crime in California – Penal Code Section 528.5
To provide a 21st Century update to an 1872 law that criminalized impersonating another, Penal Code 528.5 was enacted after the legislature and the governor passed the bill in September 2010. The law will go into effect starting January 2011. The new law was enacted to punish the act of intentionally impersonating someone else online for the purpose of fraud, intimidation, or to exact some sort of harm upon another.…
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I am Accused of an Internet Crime – What Should I Do?
With the versatility and common usage of computers, California has enacted laws to punish crimes associated with the Internet and computers. Internet crime, or cybercrime, is very broad and can include offenses ranging from criminal threats, to child molestation, to theft or fraud. Prosecutors and investigators at both the state and federal level work in conjunction in internet crime investigations to prosecute the full gamut of computer crimes. Some common…
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Do I Really Know Who I am Talking to Online?
Tips from a Criminal Defense Attorney It's a question that you may ask yourself after hearing about men being arrested for having sexual relationships with underage girls that they met online. In one case, a man in his 50s portrayed himself as being in his early 20s, met a 14 year old girl online and began having an online relationship with her. The girl would perform live sex acts on…
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