Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 434.845 (2026)

Unlawful access to a computer in the first degree

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful access to a computer in the first degree when he or she, without the effective consent of the owner, knowingly and willfully, directly or indirectly accesses, causes to be accessed, or attempts to access any computer software, computer program, data, computer, computer system, computer network, or any part thereof, for the purpose of: (a) Devising or executing any scheme or artifice to defraud; or (b) Obtaining money, property, or services for themselves or another by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises. (2) Unlawful access to a computer in the first degree is a Class C felony. Effective: July 15, 2002 History: Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 350, sec. 2, effective July 15, 2002. -- Created 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 210, sec. 2, effective July 13, 1984.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2001–2022 · leading case: Clark v. Teamsters Local Union 651, 349 F. Supp. 3d 605 (E.D. Ky. 2018).
Clark v. Teamsters Local Union 651, 349 F. Supp. 3d 605 (E.D. Ky. 2018). · cites it 4× “Ky. Rev. Stat. §§ 434.845 -.853; 446.070.”
Commonwealth v. Cocke, 58 S.W.3d 891 (Ky. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 11× “As said alleged conduct falls under the prohibition in subsection (l)(c) of KRS 434.845, the vagueness analysis will focus on the language of this subsection.”
Liberty Corp. Capital Ltd. v. Sec. Safe Outlet, Inc., 937 F. Supp. 2d 891 (E.D. Ky. 2013). · cites it 2× “§ 434.845 (unlawful access of computer); and (11) Count XI- — violation of K.”
Day v. Commonwealth, 367 S.W.3d 616 (Ky. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 6× “020 and for first-degree unlawful access to a computer under KRS 434.845 violates double jeopardy. We find it does not.”
Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Chasity Shirley (Ky. 2022). · cites it 23× “840 Definitions (codified in 1984 and revised in 2002); 2) KRS 434.845 Unlawful access to a computer in the first degree (same);2 3) KRS 434.”
Chasity Shirley v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 11× “Therefore, we examine KRS 434.845 and the related statutes. KRS 434.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 434.845(1) — 2 cases
Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Chasity Shirley (Ky. 2022). “840 Definitions (codified in 1984 and revised in 2002); 2) KRS 434.845 Unlawful access to a computer in the first degree (same);2 3) KRS 434.”
Chasity Shirley v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2021). “Therefore, we examine KRS 434.845 and the related statutes. KRS 434.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 434.845(1)(a) — 1 case
Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Chasity Shirley (Ky. 2022). “840 Definitions (codified in 1984 and revised in 2002); 2) KRS 434.845 Unlawful access to a computer in the first degree (same);2 3) KRS 434.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 434.845(1)(c) — 1 case
Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Chasity Shirley (Ky. 2022). “840 Definitions (codified in 1984 and revised in 2002); 2) KRS 434.845 Unlawful access to a computer in the first degree (same);2 3) KRS 434.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 434.845(l)(c) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Cocke, 58 S.W.3d 891 (Ky. Ct. App. 2001). “As said alleged conduct falls under the prohibition in subsection (l)(c) of KRS 434.845, the vagueness analysis will focus on the language of this subsection.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 434.845(l)(e) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Cocke, 58 S.W.3d 891 (Ky. Ct. App. 2001). “As said alleged conduct falls under the prohibition in subsection (l)(c) of KRS 434.845, the vagueness analysis will focus on the language of this subsection.”
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