There will come a time and place in your life (perhaps more than one) when you are literally in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Whether that turns out to be a car or plane accident, missing out on the game-winning home run or catching that elusive foul ball, even being a few minutes late on meeting that potential boy or girlfriend at the local bar. Yes, timing is pretty much everything in life.
That said there is also the scenario of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, specifically a sexual assault charge.
Maybe you had absolutely nothing to do with the alleged crime, but you just happened to be nearby or even at the scene.
Maybe you had a few drinks and don’t exactly remember everything that went down, yet now you’re being charged with a serious crime.
In either scenario, how do you get yourself out of a sexual assault scenario?
Back up Your Story with Facts
In order to clear yourself of a sexual assault charge, remember these tips:
- Innocence – Always proclaim your innocence, especially if you are temporarily put under arrest by law enforcement officers. In many cases, you may not have had the opportunity to get with and/or speak to an attorney. Whether you require a Houston sexual assault attorney or one closer to where you live, proclaiming your innocence in the case from the start is imperative;
- Facts – When it comes to claims as serious as a sexual assault charge, having the facts in your corner mean a great deal. Do all you can to remember specific facts and how they put you in a positive light. Were you even in the vicinity of the alleged assault when it is reported to have happened? Do you have a witness or witnesses who can provide you with a hardcore alibi? Is the individual accusing you of sexual assault had connections with you in the past? If so, were they positive occurrences or ones that resulted in some kind of verbal or physical altercations? Do you have any background information on the alleged victim or victims? If they have a past that includes lying about such claims, this can prove extremely relevant in a court of law. Lastly, does the individual or individuals making these sexual assault charges against you have anything to gain in doing so? If you can prove that to be the case with a fact or facts, it certainly should be brought to the attention of your legal team;
- Legalese – Finding the best legal team to represent you over such serious charges is as important as anything else you might do in this case. Finding the best attorney out there can take some time, something in all likelihood you don’t have an abundance of. If you’ve never had to hire an attorney before, you may be a little stuck on where to start. Always keep in mind in many cases that an attorney will be presented to you if you can’t afford one. That said you are literally at the mercy of the legal system at that point and time. Having a family attorney, even if they do not deal in certain areas of the law, helps in that they are likely to be able to recommend a good criminal defense attorney to represent you. Finally, cooperate as much as possible with your legal team. It is important to remember that they are here to help you, not cause you more problems. Provide them with the truth, not to mention as many facts related to the case as possible;
- Education – In the event you are cleared of any and all charges in a sexual assault case, by all means learn from the situation. The education provided you from such a case could help you the remainder of your life. Little things like not putting yourself in a precarious situation in the future can be one of the greatest lessons learned. Given the serious nature of each and every sexual assault allegation, all such alleged crimes must be investigated to the fullest extent, giving both sides the ability to tell their respective stories. Take this experience and run with it, allowing you to steer clear of such allegations down the road.