Email Hacking

Email hacking is the criminal offense of accessing another person’s email without his or her consent. An offender who accessed another’s email account by cracking the password, stealing the password, or simply accessing the account without permission is guilty of email hacking. While this act of snooping may seem like a minor offense, it is in fact prosecuted as a felony in the state of Florida.

If you or someone you know has been charged with email hacking, contact the experienced West Palm Beach criminal defense attorneys of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A., today at 561-353-2800 to discuss your legal rights and options.

Penalties for Email Hacking

While email hacking is sometimes committed by strangers, typically the offender and victim are somehow acquainted. They may be married, living together, dating, exes, coworkers, family members, friends, or otherwise know each other. No matter how close your relation is or was, it is a crime to access another person’s email without permission. If the victim chooses to press charges against you, you could find yourself facing a third-degree or even a second-degree felony charge.

Typically email hacking is prosecuted as a third-degree felony. However, this charge may be elevated to a second-degree felony if the email hacking took place to defraud or to obtain any property from the victim. A third-degree felony is a serious offense that includes the following penalties if you are convicted:

• Up to 5 years in prison
• Up to $5,000 in fines

A second-degree felony includes elevated penalties as follows:

• Up to 15 years in prison
• Up to $10,000 in fines

If you are facing email hacking charges, you likely have many questions regarding your case and how you can prepare your defense for court. Our West Palm Beach criminal lawyers are committed to defending your case to the full extent of the law, and we will fight to protect your legal rights.

Contact Us

To learn how we can help you prepare your legal defense, don’t hesitate to contact the experienced West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A., today at 561-353-2800.