A child sex abuse conviction can have a dire and lasting impact on your life even when you know you have not committed the crime. Significant penalties and permanent damage to your reputation are direct results of this type of criminal conviction.
A conviction for child molestation can include:
- Jail time
- Probation
- Fines
- Sex offender registration
- Loss of employment or professional licenses
- Loss of child custody
False accusations can happen for various reasons, including a spouse that wants to get child custody and receive child support at any cost during a difficult divorce. No matter why your accuser brought up the child molestation against you, this can have lasting consequences on your reputation and life. Hiring a competent defense lawyer and knowing how to protect yourself to clear your name can help you secure a positive outcome in this challenging situation.
Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney Immediately
As soon as you learn of allegations of child sex abuse against you, you should reach out to a criminal defense attorney for their advice. Thanks to the confidentiality of the relationship between lawyer and client, what you discuss with them cannot be shared or included during a trial or other legal proceedings. The sooner you work with an attorney, the easier communicating with law enforcement and other involved parties is because they can speak on your behalf.
A reputable attorney who has a successful track record of helping defendants accused of sex crimes, including against minors, can guide you through the legal system and make sure that you receive a fair trial. They have several options to build an effective defense to obtain a dismissal of charges and clear your name from the false child molestation accusations.
In this type of case, the burden of proof falls on the alleged victim instead of on you. The accuser must prove “Beyond a reasonable doubt” that you committed sexual abuse against them or the victim if the accuser is a parent or guardian.
What You Can Do If Someone Wrongfully Accuses You of Child Molestation
Although your lawyer can advise you on how to approach each step of the legal process, knowing some key tips to protect yourself when wrongfully accused of child sex abuse can help.
You should gather any evidence you have about:
- Your relationship with the alleged victim
- Your whereabouts at the time of the incident(s) mentioned by the accuser
- A list of possible witnesses and their contact details
Share these documents with your attorney as soon as possible to help them build your defense in a timely and effective manner.
When you have contact with law enforcement, usually soon after the accuser officially reported you, you should cooperate and remain courteous with the police, but you should not directly speak about the accusations without an attorney present. Everything you say could be used against you before the court.
Whether a judge forbids you from contacting the accuser or not, staying away from them is important. The accuser could misconstrue your attempt to contact them, which could decrease your chance of clearing your name.
How an Experienced Attorney Can Contest the Charges Against You
When you face a false accusation of child molestation, no evidence exists against you and it is your word against the accuser’s, which makes a criminal defense lawyer’s help all the more important. Your attorney has several strategies available to establish your innocence.
A criminal defense lawyer conducts their own investigation that can include:
- Accessing the alleged victim’s medical records that pertain to the case
- Psychological evaluations of the accuser and the alleged victim
- Review of your communications records to show there is no sign of misconduct
If child molestation happened but someone else committed it, your lawyer can use those items as well as DNA evidence to prove that you were not the perpetrator. They can also conduct cross-examination of any witnesses that testify.
If you want to clear your names from false accusations of child sex abuse, working with a trusted attorney who aggressively fights for your rights to protect your future is crucial. They can not only answer any questions you may have about the legal process, but they know how to dismantle the prosecution’s arguments to reveal the truth. They can also tell you what your options are if you want to countersue your accuser for slander.
Brad Bailey Law provides an effective criminal defense if you need to clear your name from false child sex abuse allegations in Boston. Contact us today at (617) 500-0252 to schedule a consultation.