Code Section

North Carolina General Statutes sections 14-453 through 14-459 outline the state’s computer-related crimes.

Mental State Required for Prosecution

To be prosecuted for a computer crime, a defendant must willfully commit one of the prohibited offenses.

Misdemeanor Computer Crimes

The following crimes are Class 1 misdemeanors:

• Unlawful access of computers for purposes other than to scheme, defraud, or obtain property;  
• Altering, damaging, or destroying computer software, programs or data; and
• Unlawfully accessing educational testing material or academic testing scores or grades that are in a government computer;
• Denying an authorized user access to a computer, computer network, or computer program.

Felony Computer Crimes

Class G felonies include the following:

• Unlawful access of computers with the purpose to scheme, defraud, obtain property if the damages or property obtained are more than $1,000; and
• Damaging a computer, computer system, computer network, or parts thereof (if a person maliciously threatens to commit these actions with the intent to extort money or gain some other advantage, the crime is classified as a Class H felony).

The actions described above are Class F felonies if a government computer is accessed.

It is a Class H felony to deny access to government computer services.