Cyber Crimes Attorney in Georgetown, TX

Former Prosecutors Defending State & Federal Cyber Crime Charges in Georgetown

Cyber crime charges move fast. By the time investigators make contact, they’ve often been building a digital evidence file for weeks or months. At Winters & Chidester, attorneys James Winters and Veronica Chidester bring something most defense firms can’t offer: they spent years on the other side of these cases as Texas prosecutors. Veronica Chidester served at the Travis County Attorney’s Office and the Travis County DA’s Office, including as a chief misdemeanor and family violence prosecutor and in the felony criminal trial court division. That background shapes how we approach every case, from anticipating investigative tactics to identifying weaknesses before charges are formally filed.

We defend both state and federal cyber crime charges for clients in Georgetown, Williamson County, Austin, Travis County, and surrounding communities. Consultations are free, and we serve clients in both English and Spanish. Hablamos español.

Facing a cyber crime investigation or arrest? Contact Winters & Chidester at (512) 961-4555 to schedule a free consultation before you speak to investigators.

Cyber Crime Charges We Defend

Cyber crimes cover a wide range of offenses involving computers, networks, and the internet. They can be prosecuted under Texas state law, federal law, or both simultaneously, and penalties span from Class B misdemeanors to first-degree felonies. This practice area sits within our broader white collar crimes work, and computer crime charges frequently overlap with fraud and identity theft matters our team handles regularly.

Texas Penal Code Chapter 33 offenses include:

• Breach of Computer Security (§33.02): Accessing a computer, network, or system without the owner’s authorization
• Online Solicitation of a Minor (§33.021): Using electronic communication to solicit sexual conduct from a minor
• Electronic Access Interference (§33.022): Intentionally interrupting access to a computer system
• Electronic Data Tampering (§33.023): Altering, damaging, or destroying data without authorization
• Online Impersonation (§33.07): Creating a fraudulent online persona to harm, defraud, or intimidate another person

Common federal charges include:

• Unauthorized computer access and hacking under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), 18 U.S.C. §1030
• Wire fraud connected to online conduct (18 U.S.C. §1343)
• Identity theft and aggravated identity theft (18 U.S.C. §1028A)
• Cyberstalking and ransomware or malware deployment

Penalties Under Texas & Federal Law

The severity of a cyber crime charge depends on the nature of the conduct, the system targeted, and the dollar amount of harm involved. Under Texas Penal Code §33.02, unauthorized access with no intent to defraud begins as a Class B misdemeanor but escalates to a state jail felony if the targeted system belongs to a government entity or critical infrastructure facility, or if the defendant has two or more prior Chapter 33 convictions.

When the access involves intent to defraud or cause harm, Texas law scales penalties by calculated damage: under $100 is a Class C misdemeanor; $100 to $749 is a Class B misdemeanor; $750 to $2,499 is a Class A misdemeanor; and $2,500 to $29,999 is a state jail felony. Texas prosecutors can also aggregate damages from multiple incidents against the same victim, converting what looks like minor conduct into a higher-grade felony.

Federal exposure is generally more severe. CFAA penalties range from misdemeanors carrying up to one year for basic unauthorized access to felonies with maximum sentences of 10 years or more; repeat federal offenses can result in sentences of 20 years or more. Federal prosecutors routinely stack CFAA charges with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft counts. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory minimum sentence that runs consecutive to any other term imposed.

How We Defend Cyber Crime Cases

Every cyber crime case rests on digital evidence, and digital evidence is subject to the same constitutional protections as any other search. We begin each case by scrutinizing how investigators obtained access to devices, accounts, and data. Evidence collected without a proper warrant or outside the scope of an authorized search can be challenged, and suppression of that evidence can significantly affect the direction of a case.

Beyond evidence challenges, the defenses available depend on the specific charge:

• Authorization: If the system owner consented to access, no breach of computer security occurred under §33.02. Consent is a defense.
• Lack of intent: Many Chapter 33 offenses require knowing or intentional conduct. We examine whether the prosecution can actually prove the defendant understood and intended the alleged criminal action.
• Damage calculation: Challenging how prosecutors calculate harm can reduce a charge’s severity level or support a negotiated resolution.
• Statutory defense under §33.02(e): Texas law provides a defense for persons who accessed a system to facilitate a lawful search or seizure for a legitimate law enforcement purpose.

We prepare every case for trial or negotiation. James Winters and Veronica Chidester have worked together as a trial team since law school and carried that partnership through their prosecutorial careers. That shared courtroom history means the defense strategy we build for your case is designed to address the issues that can arise in a Williamson County courtroom.

Former Prosecutors. Insider Knowledge. Georgetown Cyber Crime Defense.

Both attorneys at Winters & Chidester prosecuted criminal cases before shifting to defense, and that experience directly shapes how we defend computer crime charges. We understand how investigators document digital evidence, how prosecutors decide which charges to file, and where those cases tend to be weakest. We use that knowledge to challenge the state’s or federal government’s case from the earliest stages.

We represent clients across Georgetown, Williamson County, Austin, Travis County, Hutto, Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, and Pflugerville. Services are available in English and Spanish.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Georgetown Cyber Crimes Attorney

A cyber crime charge doesn’t just carry the risk of prison time. It can affect your job, your professional licenses, and your reputation before any conviction ever occurs. Acting early gives us the opportunity to assess the evidence, advise you on your rights during law enforcement contact, and work toward the best available outcome.

Winters & Chidester offers free consultations for clients in Georgetown and throughout Williamson County. We handle both state and federal charges, and we won’t bill you to have that first conversation.

Call Winters & Chidester at (512) 961-4555 to speak with a cyber crimes attorney in Georgetown. The consultation is free and completely confidential.