The #MeToo movement has raised the consciousness of the entire country, bringing to light once-unreported sexual assault and misconduct and making space available for women who have been taken advantage of by high-profile, powerful men. Although there is an abundance of credible cases, there is a dearth of unfounded accusations.
For instance, ex-lawmaker Harold Ford Jr. was fired from his job at Morgan Stanley, despite adamantly denying the accusations of sexual harassment made against him. Even if the allegations are found unproven, does his reputation return to normal?
Aziz Ansari was accused publicly, not of rape, but of a bad sexual encounter. When he was asked to stop, he complied. However, according to the accuser, he should have known to stop before that due to non-verbal cues.
Most people are familiar with the idea that in a court of law, a person is innocent until proven guilty. However, these recent events have made due process difficult to obtain for those accused of sexual assault and misconduct.
So if you have been falsely accused of a sex crime, you need to start protecting yourself and planning for your defense as soon as you suspect you are under investigation by law enforcement. While it is natural to believe that if you didn’t commit the act, you will be found innocent of the charges once the investigation concludes or after you have been able to tell “your side of the story.” Unfortunately, defending oneself from these types of accusations is rarely, if ever, that simple. You need to combat the allegations immediately, no matter of your opinion on the credibility of the charges against you.
So what should you do? The following are several suggestions in order to protect your rights and future:
- Obtain the legal services of an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.
- Prepare for the potential costs of your defense, such as expert witnesses, special psychological tests, and other evidence that may benefit your case.
- Create a timeline of the events before and after the alleged incident and include as much detail as possible, whether or not you consider them important.
- Educate yourself of the criminal offenses against you, your rights, and the legal system.
- Compile a list of potential witnesses to can be your alibi to the alleged incident
- Enforce your rights, such as not speaking with police without a lawyer present or being guaranteed the right to competent legal representation by the U.S. Constitution.
At The Law Offices of Christopher J. Cherella, our Milwaukee criminal defense attorney has successfully handled these types of cases. We understand how to develop a strong defense strategy against these types of allegations and walk you through the process. If you are facing any false accusations of sexual misconduct, let our experienced legal team protect your rights, reputation, and freedom.
For more information, contact us and request a free consultation today.