What to Know When Charged with a Sex Crime

Sex crime cases are some of the most complicated and emotional cases to handle. If you are facing allegations of a sex crime, you should take the allegations very seriously regardless of whether you are sure that you are not guilty.

Research shows that out of 116 sexual assault cases studied, 11.6% of them were wrongful convictions. This is why it is important to get in touch with the right attorney to review your case, gather evidence, and help you prove your innocence.

Facing an alleged sex crime can be a very tough time for the defendant. You can lose your family, friends, or even your job. Contact a federal criminal defense lawyer for trusted advice and proper legal representation.

If you have been falsely accused of a sexual crime, here is what you need to do:

Don’t Talk and Stay Calm

No one wants to be charged with a sexual crime, especially because of the stigma that is associated with it. Because of this, you may want to quickly clear your name and apologize or explain everything to the police and the victim or their family members. 

Once you have been arrested, anything you say or do can be used against you. Therefore, talking to the police or anyone else is not the best action to take. Instead, it would help if you stayed quiet. You have a legal right to remain silent. Talk to your lawyer and only your lawyer.

Talk to a Criminal Defense Attorney

One of the first phone calls that you should make after having been arrested is to an attorney. Sexual crimes are criminal offenses; therefore, you will need a good criminal defense attorney when facing such charges. 

Your family or tax attorney may not offer you the legal help you need. A criminal lawyer is more familiar with the state and federal laws concerning such crimes and will know how to defend you.

Do not wait until things escalate to talk to an attorney. Get in touch with them as soon as possible to enable them to stay ahead of the case.

Document Everything

You need to write down everything you can remember about the alleged incident. This includes the date, time, information about witnesses, your alibi, and more. Your attorney will use this information to prepare your defense. No information is irrelevant. 

You should also gather and preserve any information or records that can show where you were at the time of the incident or any record of your communication, such as email, letters, call logs, social media posts, pictures, and more.

Try not to get rid of any evidence that shows your previous communication or relations. Your attorney will help you preserve any evidence you have, and gathering all this information will ensure that they are not surprised by the prosecution should the case go to trial. 

Understand the Scope of the Situation

Your attorney will explain to you more about the charges against you, the consequences of the charges if you are found guilty, and the possible defenses. If your case goes to trial, you should be ready to face a very hard and maybe embarrassing moment.

Therefore, you should know what to expect, how to handle yourself, and what you are legally required to do while the case is under investigation so that you do not end up incriminating yourself.

Get More Information from a Criminal Defense Attorney

It is a costly mistake to assume that a sexual crime allegation will not be sustainable because you are innocent or were too careful. While you might manage to stay out of prison, a mere accusation can ruin your reputation and the relationship with your family or friends. Therefore, it is vital to get in touch with a criminal defense attorney as fast as possible to quickly review the facts and come up with the best defense.