5 THINGS TO DO IF YOU'VE BEEN FALSELY ACCUSED OF A SEX CRIME
Over 1.9 million people in Ohio have criminal records, according to the Ohio Justice and Policy Center. Of these 1.9 million, 20,000 are listed as sex offenders who have been convicted of various levels of sex crimes. That said, not everyone who is convicted -- or even accused -- of such a crime is actually guilty of any wrongdoing.
If you have been falsely accused of a sex crime, having a professional criminal defense attorney will be key in helping you prove your innocence. Because of the nature of sex crimes, you should not attempt to defend yourself in court, especially if you have been falsely accused. If you are currently facing sex crime charges, here’s what you need to know.
What To Do If You’ve Been Falsely Accused
Find a Criminal Defense Lawyer: When it comes to selecting a strong defense against sex crime charges, you don't want to simply choose the first lawyer you stumble across. Research different lawyers in your area and schedule consultations with multiple options on your list. During these consultations, have the lawyer explain their experience in winning cases like yours, as well as how they would plan to defend you in court. Once you have interviewed multiple attorneys, you can select the one that you feel is the best fit for you. Additionally, you may want to look at reviews from previous clients before making a selection to see if they are able to live up to everything they told you.
Build a Solid Defense: When falsely accused of a sex crime, you will want to start building a strong defense after you have selected your criminal defense lawyer. This can include getting specialized psychological testing or a polygraph test to suggest your innocence. Furthermore, you'll want some line up additional evidence that could exonerate you from your charges. This can include witness testimony or testimony which helps prove character.
Watch Your Behavior Another thing you will want to do is build awareness of everything you say and do. This can include making sure that you don't make any ill-considered comments that could potentially compromise your case. This includes social media posts and even private text or email conversations. Fortunately, criminal defense lawyers are great at pointing out behaviors that you should be aware of and avoid so that you can present yourself in the best possible way to the court.
Beware of Investigators: During your case, you should also be aware that investigators will try to gain evidence of your guilt. Investigators may try and accomplish this with various methods. For instance, an investigator may show up to your home to discuss information or they may use a controlled phone call from a police station in which the accuser tries to get you to deny or admit the charges. They may also use uncontrolled phone calls in which the accuser or another person record phone conversations with you in order to try and gain incriminating evidence. If during the course of your trial, you are approached by someone claiming to be an investigator, you should contact your criminal defense lawyer soon as possible and take care to not say anything that could potentially be used against you.
Don’t Give Up: Finally, one of the most important things to keep in mind is that you should not give up on your case. Because sex crimes are such a serious matter, you have to show the court that you are willing to go the extra mile to prove your innocence. With the help of a criminal defense lawyer, you can take the necessary steps to show that you have been falsely accused. Although it will be difficult, when faced with such a serious charge, it is well worth the effort to keep going until you are exonerated.
If you have been charged with a sex crime, don't wait to contact a criminal defense lawyer and start building a strong defense for your case. With hard work and a strong defense team, you will have a better shot at getting the charges cleared than if you were to try and fight them on your own.