Allegations of a sex crime can cause permanent damage to your family, reputation and career and even result in your loss of freedom. Furthermore, whether or not you are convicted, the sexual offense can go on your record, resulting in the possible loss of your job and dimming of your career and housing prospects. Even so, you have specific legal rights as the accused, and a seasoned criminal defense attorney can represent you and help you come to terms with the allegations and fight back vigorously against them as well as get a handle on the repercussions for your personal and business life.
Protecting Yourself Against Allegations of Federal Sex Crimes
- Take the accusations against you very seriously, even if they are false or overblown and embellished. If you minimize the severity of the allegations or ignore them and hope they go away, you run the risk of failing to take critical steps to build a stiff defense. For instance, witnesses who might be able to provide testimony to clear your name could forget what they saw, or evidence from the scene that could help exonerate you might disappear or become contaminated.
- Hire a qualified lawyer as soon as possible. Even if they are unfounded, false allegations of a sex crime can stain your image in the community. An experienced lawyer can help find and exploit the holes in the prosecution’s case against you.
- Do not talk to anyone about your case except your attorney or answer any questions posed by the police. In an effort to explain your actions, you could inadvertently say the wrong thing. The authorities might twist your efforts or might attempt to put words in your mouth in a misguided effort to convict you.
- Have your lawyer request copies of all evidence against you. Such evidence might include police reports, witness statements, forensic evidence, expert testimony from witnesses for the prosecution, the results of any psychological testing and anything that your lawyer might deem necessary to review in order to properly defend you.
- Avoid running away or trying to dispose of evidence (such as your computer). First of all, destroying such potential evidence could get you in additional legal trouble. Running away will also compound your legal woes. Act ethically, and trust that your attorney can help coordinate an effective defense.
- Tell your attorney the truth. Especially if you did or said things that you’re embarrassed or ashamed of doing – even if those things stopped short of constituting criminal activity – you might be tempted to whitewash history and avoid taking responsibility. This is unethical, and it’s also dangerous, because the prosecution might blindside you at trial with evidence that exposes your lying or creative omissions. Your attorney needs to know exactly what happened so he or she can craft the most appropriate strategy.
Consider seeking therapy, even if the charges are false and you’re able to clear them. Being accused of something as serious as a sex crime can totally disrupt your life, making it hard to concentrate, cultivate relationships and move on from the incident. Get the help you need to reclaim your life, contact our legal team today for a confidential consultation.
