How to Protect Yourself Against False Allegations in Sex Crime Cases

If you’ve been falsely charged with a sex crime in Indiana, you must take immediate steps to protect yourself, including:

Not Speaking to Police

If police take you in for questioning, exercise your right to remain silent. While it’s understandable that you want to clear your name, it’s not uncommon for law enforcement to get tunnel vision and to only be focused on trying to find evidence to confirm your guilt rather than trying to understand what really happened or to remove you as a suspect. Be polite, but don’t answer any of their questions.

Requesting a Lawyer 

If police arrest or question you, request a sex crimes lawyer in Indianapolis immediately. This is your right. Exercise it. 

Understanding Motivations for False Allegations 

You might be surprised to find out that you are accused of doing something you would never do. However, people may fabricate claims of sexual violence or misconduct for various reasons, including:

• Seeking revenge
• Being bitter after a breakup
• Trying to gain an advantage in another legal matter
• Trying to use a criminal case as leverage to pursue a monetary award
• Regretting the sexual encounter
• Being confused about what happened
• Getting attention
• Covering up their own inappropriate behavior

Carefully consider why the alleged victim would be lying or mistaken about what happened and inform your lawyer of this information so they can build a case around it.

Not Reaching Out to the Alleged Victim 

Don’t try to contact the alleged victim. This will only make things worse. Also, there could be a no-contact order in place, and you could wind up violating it and facing additional consequences for this action. Instead, let your attorney take the reins in proving your innocence. 

Not Talking About Your Case to Others

Avoid talking about your case to others. While sex crimes can cause significant consequences in the lives of the accused, including negatively affecting their reputation and professional standing, your priority right now needs to be on building an effective defense to the criminal charges. Avoid talking about your case to anyone other than your lawyer.

Assisting in Your Defense

While your lawyer will take the lead in defending you, you may be able to aid in your defense by:

• Writing down your recollection of events
• Explaining why the alleged victim may be making up or exaggerating claims
• Writing down a list of potential witnesses who can corroborate your version of events
• Saving your texts, social media exchanges, and other written communications with the alleged victim 
• Keeping the clothing you were wearing and your bedding for laboratory testing
• Preserving any relevant video footage or photos 

Contacting The Criminal Defense Team Immediately

If you’re facing false allegations of a sex crime, do not take the matter lightly. Don’t assume that the accusations will go away just because they are false. Don’t try to handle this serious matter alone. Instead, reach out for legal assistance and representation from a law firm with over a century of combined legal experience. Contact The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin Perry & Wiley PC at (317) 743-3295 for a free and confidential consultation.