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Being falsely accused of sexual assault can be a scary experience, and you are probably thinking that you just want to get out of this situation as soon as you possibly can. You need to be careful though, and you need to make sure that you are protecting yourself and your rights. You should have an experienced Mercer County assault defense lawyer on your side.
What Should I Do After Being Accused of Sexual Assault?
We recommend writing down your version of events so that your recollection does not get foggy. Talk to anyone else who could have been involved or people who can act as a witness on your behalf. If you can establish an alibi, do that. Then contact a defense lawyer, because there is no good reason to fight such serious accusations on your own.
Can I Speak to the Person Who Accused Me of Sexual Assault?
This is inadvisable. Some people think that there was just some mixup and that they can go and clear it up themselves, but you should not do that. You could just end up making the situation worse. You have no protection from incrimination when you do this. Emotions could also run high during a conversation about sexual assault allegations, and you could do or say something that just strengthens your accuser’s case.
There is just very little upside to reaching out to this person now. Make all communications go through your lawyer.
Should I Speak to the Cops?
This is also not a good idea. The cops are not on your side. They want someone to arrest for the crime and anything that you say to them could be twisted and used against you.
If you are called in to speak to the police, invoke your Fifth Amendment right to stay silent and avoid incriminating yourself. You are under no obligation to speak to the police when they question you. So stay silent, and then ask for your lawyer.
What Can a Lawyer Do For Me?
Your lawyer can do many things to help you build a defense and poke holes in the state’s case against you. Remember, they have the burden of proof here. You just need to create reasonable doubt and show that parts of your accuser’s and the prosecutor’s stories do not line up. Your attorney can:
- Call in character witnesses
- Gather evidence that refutes your accuser’s claims
- Establish an alibi for you
- Handle all communications with cops and lawyers on your behalf
- Get illegally gathered evidence thrown out
- Talk about plea bargains, if necessary
Call and Ask For Your Free Consultation
If you are facing criminal charges, contact the Law Office of Douglas Herring. There is no good reason to fight these accusations on your own, so get one of our experienced attorneys on the case. We will do everything that we can do to help you escape this terrible experience unscathed.
