An accusation of sexual assault must be taken seriously, because the consequences of a conviction can be life-altering. While you may feel overwhelmed and devastated by the false allegations, you have to take the steps to protect yourself and plan your defense as soon as you suspect you are being investigated.
Here is what you should do if you’ve been falsely accused of sexual assault:
Hire an Attorney
Your first step should be retaining an experienced criminal defense attorney. They can help you through the process of defending yourself at all stages of the proceedings, including the police interviews and trial. Review your rights with an attorney before you speak to police officers.
Gather Evidence
Document your experience with the person accusing you of sexual assault. Write down everything you can remember, including the time of the alleged event, key phone calls, text messages and emails, possible witnesses, and other interactions you had with the accuser. An attorney can help you hire an investigator to track down this information and more.
Don’t Talk About Your Case
This means you should not discuss details of your case to anyone, including friends and coworkers. Police may interview them and if they provide conflicting testimony, it could harm your case. Also, stay away from social media. You may feel compelled to vent in frustration, but rest assured that the plaintiff’s team will be monitoring your every move online.
The consequences of a sex crime can affect you for life. If you have been wrongfully accused of sexual assault, please contact the Miami criminal defense lawyers at Mitchell & West LLC. Our legal team, recognized by a number organizations such as Super Lawyers®, will do everything they can to see that the charges against you are dropped.
Call (305) 783-3301 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. We have offices in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale.