Victims of sex offenses deserve help. There is no question about that. But rape accusations are estimated to be false as much as 10 percent of the time. What about the 10 percent of the accused who did not do what they are accused of? If you are one of them, don’t you deserve help, too?
You certainly do deserve experienced legal counsel. At Will & Will, we take it personally when our clients are falsely accused of sex offenses. That is why we fight hard to protect the accused. To learn more about what to do if you have been falsely accused, read on and reach out to our firm today.
What to Do When Facing False Allegations of a Sex Crime
Quick action is incredibly important when you have been falsely accused of sex offender crimes. Below, the experienced sex crime attorneys at Will & Will outline what to do immediately if you have been falsely accused.
Get a Skilled Attorney on Your Team
Your attorney is going to be your most important ally as you fight to clear your name of this false sex crime accusation. Why? Because you can explain every detail of your situation to your lawyer. And they will know how to formulate a rock-solid defense against the false allegation you are facing.
The sooner you reach out to an attorney, the better. Getting an attorney’s help early allows for more time to gather evidence, communicate with the prosecution and build a defense. In fact, you do not have to wait until you are falsely charged with a sex crime to contact a lawyer. If you even suspect that someone may be considering accusing you of being a sex offender, you can reach out for legal help.
A skilled sex crime defense lawyer may be able to intervene before a charge is even made to prevent the charge from ever happening.
The following are a few other benefits of working with a criminal defense attorney when you have been falsely accused of a sex offense:
- Attorneys have deep knowledge of the Washington criminal process, which means they will know the best way for you to move forward after a false accusation is made.
- Your defense lawyer will know exactly where to look for evidence that can prove that the allegations against you are false.
- Your attorney will know how to negotiate with the prosecution to reduce charges, lessen potential penalties or get charges dropped altogether.
- Because of attorney-client privilege, you can tell your lawyer everything that happened without any fear that your statements will be used against you.
Understand the Seriousness of the Accusation
Although you know the sex offense accusation against you is false, it is still incredibly serious. Unfortunately, many people who are falsely accused of sex offender-related crimes still end up behind bars and with a permanent mark on their criminal record.
You cannot simply wait for this to go away or assume that the police or prosecutors will see that the allegations are false. If you do not take this charge seriously, you could face life-altering consequences that include prison time, sex offender registration, hefty fines and possible restitution to the alleged victim.
The punishments for different sex crimes in Washington can vary, but all have a tremendous negative effect on the life of the accused. Fortunately, you can defend against this false accusation with the help of a skilled attorney.
Refrain from Making Statements
When you are falsely accused of a sex crime, you are going to face a lot of questions — both from the police and from people in your life. Other than contacting an attorney as soon as possible, one of the most important things you can do to help yourself in this situation is this:
Do not discuss the allegations against you with anyone other than your attorney unless your attorney is present.
This includes the police, your coworkers, your friends and even your family. Any statement you make to these people could be twisted and used against you. Even responding to the allegations against you on social media is not a wise decision.
Craft an Account of the Events
The person who falsely accused you of a sex crime has a story about what supposedly happened. You need one, too.
Your story needs to explain what really happened. And every part of it needs to be supported by evidence like witness statements, camera footage, your alibi, work schedule and other relevant details.
Be sure to write down an accurate account of the events described in the allegations against you. This will help ensure that you do not miss anything and that your attorney has the full story to work with when building your defense. Additionally, it will create a record of what happened and prevent you from forgetting details that could become important later on.
Avoid Any Contact with the Alleged Victim
You may be tempted to reach out to the person who has falsely accused you as a sex offender. You may want to set the record straight, try to reach an understanding, express your anger or beg them to take the false accusation back.
That desire is understandable, but reaching out to the alleged victim is not a good idea. This person has already leveled a false accusation at you, so their ability to be reasonable is already in severe doubt. On top of this, the person could further accuse you of harassment or try to use something you say against you.
Instead, speak with your attorney about what really happened. A trusted and qualified criminal defense lawyer will know how to proceed in a way that can help you avoid going to prison for something you did not do.
Falsely Accused of a Sex Offense? Contact Will & Will
Trusted criminal defense attorneys Court and Michelle Will understand the damage a false accusation of a sex crime can do to your life. Not only is your reputation damaged, but you are also facing potential time in prison and thousands of dollars in fines if you are convicted.
We are here to put a stop to that. No one should be convicted of a crime they did not commit. As a husband-and-wife team experienced in both criminal defense and prosecution, we know the Washington criminal system inside and out. We can guide you to a successful resolution so you can get your life back.
If you have been falsely accused of sex offender crimes, you have to act fast. Call Will & Will at 206-858-1380 or contact us online as soon as possible.