8 things to do when you’re falsely accused of sexual assault
Its a nightmare thousands of people find themselves in each year: you didn’t commit rape, sexual assault, or any other sex crime, but fingers are pointed at you.
As a criminal lawyer who proudly represents the criminally accused in East Tennessee, I’ve seen it happen: you CAN be found guilty of a sex crime you didn’t commit. That’s why, in this article, I’m diving into the 3 things to NEVER do if accused of a sex crime, and the 5 steps to take to protect yourself.
Facing a charge of sexual assault can be aggravating and scary. But if you follow these following steps, you’ll increase your chances of coming out on top.
3 Things to Never Do If Accused of Sexual Assault
Let’s get something out of the way – I’ve seen plenty of people make these mistakes, and it hurts their chances of getting a positive outcome.
DON’T ignore it and assume it'll go away.
You might think these allegations are ridiculous and that they have no case against you, but don’t get overconfident. As I mentioned above, just because you didn’t do it, doesn’t mean they can’t throw the book at you.
Recognize the level of trouble you’re in – if you don’t take serious action to protect yourself, you could end up in huge legal trouble – so take this seriously.
2. DON’T try to defend yourself to the police.
Since you didn’t do anything, you might be tempted to clear the air and share your side of the story right away. But look – it’s never as easy as this. The cops can’t help you, here. Explaining your side of the story won’t get you anywhere… at least not to the police.
3. DON’T call the accuser and try to iron things out.
Everything you say and do can and will be used against you in the court of law. End all communication with the accuser immediately before you say something to dig yourself into a deeper hole.
Now that we’ve gotten the “don’ts” out of the way, what should you do if you find yourself falsely accused of sexual assault in Eastern Tennessee?
5 Things To Do If You’ve Been Accused of Sexual Assault in Eastern Tennessee
There’s no way around it – you’re in for a long and grueling process. Hopefully though, with the right criminal representation in Eastern Tennessee, the process won’t be as painful as it could be.
If you’re accused of sexual assault, be sure to follow these steps so you can get the case dismissed and get back to living your life.
Select the right defense attorney.
I cannot stress the importance of this enough. The right defense attorney can make all the difference. Make sure you choose an attorney who will work their ass off for you and who will be available to you 24/7.
Perhaps equally as important, make sure your criminal defense attorney has experience with cases like this.
As a criminal defense attorney in Knoxville Tennessee who lives and breathes criminal defense, I’ve worked numerous sexual assault and sex crime cases. There’s nothing my team and I haven’t seen and can’t handle.
Have you been accused of sexual assault and need aggressive representation? Reach out as soon as you can.
2. Rack your brain and write down in PAINSTAKING DETAIL the timeline of events.
Right now, it’s your word against your accuser’s. It’s the lawyer’s job to get to the bottom of exactly what happened. Which is why you need to be prepared with a crystal clear, honest account of exactly what happened that day – including every single detail – what you wore, what you did, who you saw… down to the minute.
No detail is too small to leave out. One of these details could lead to a discrepancy in your accuser’s story.
3. Gather your witness list and any evidence in your favor
Your witnesses can corroborate your version of events. Even if a witness seems irrelevant at first, still write them down. Their role is to confirm that what you’re saying is true.
Secondly, gather any evidence in your favor. Were there cameras in the area? Clothes you were wearing that haven’t been laundered yet? Let your lawyer know.
Make sure to give witness lists and evidence to your lawyer – NOT to the police. Your criminal defense lawyer is on your side. The cops are not.
4. Prepare for the costs.
It sucks, but there are legal fees – investigators hired, tests administered, etc – and these things cost money. Be prepared, because this could cost anywhere from $8,000 to $15,000, depending on how this plays out.
Just because you’re innocent doesn’t mean you can’t be found guilty of sexual assault.
This is not the time to be overconfident and naive – do not just assume that things will turn out for the best.
If you don’t play your cards right, you could be putting your reputation, family, career, and freedom at risk.
So if you’re accused of sexual assault:
DON'T assume this will just go away
DON'T try to defend yourself to the accuser or the police
Write down your version of events
Gather your evidence and witnesses
Prepare for the costs
And most importantly, make sure you have the right criminal defense team on your side. You need someone who will work hard for you, and who has experience with sexual assault cases in Eastern Tennessee. Our goal will be to get this thrown out as soon as possible, and to even make your accuser face penalties and even jail time for putting you through this.
Don’t lean back – get aggressive and defend yourself.
