One way to consider that all is that it's actually a good way to filter out people who aren't going to want to hire a software engineer that's a felon for computer crimes.
Another perspective is that OP already has massive baggage associated with him so he should tread extremely carefully, not add even more baggage. You want to look like an exemplary employee, not a liability.
Exactly. My idea of someone that I would hire who is a felon is someone that has "learned their lesson" and in this case being dead serious and to the point might help. After all OP wants to convince others that he doesn't do anything stupid again.