Falsely Accused of a Sex Crime in Northern VA? How to Protect Your Reputation and Future

If you have been falsely accused of a sex crime, you are not alone. False accusations are extremely common, and while people who make false accusations usually intend to cause harm, they often don’t understand just how much harm false sex crime accusations can cause. In this scenario, it is important to have an experienced Woodbridge sex crime attorney on your side, and you will want to talk to an experienced attorney as soon as possible.

How to Protect Yourself When Facing False Sex Crime Accusations

When facing false sex crime accusations, there are several important steps that you can (and should) take to protect your reputation and future. At the same time, there are also some potentially costly mistakes you need to be careful to avoid. To help maximize your chances of avoiding unnecessary and unwarranted consequences, you should:

1. Hire a Woodbridge Sex Crime Attorney Right Away

If you are facing accusations of committing a sex crime, you need an attorney. Even if the alleged victim’s story is entirely fabricated, you are facing extremely serious consequences, and you will need to defend yourself effectively in order to avoid a life-altering conviction.

Once you hire an attorney to represent you, your attorney will be able to give you advice immediately. Your attorney will be able to start communicating on your behalf immediately as well. This is an extremely delicate situation, and it is essential to have an experienced advisor and representative who knows what to expect and how to prepare for what is to come.

2. Take Detailed Notes About the Alleged Incident

You should take detailed notes about the night of the alleged incident. Write down everything you can think of that might be relevant to your defense. Try to answer questions like:

• Where were you on the night of the alleged incident? Were you with the alleged victim?
• Can anyone attest to your whereabouts or what happened?
• What actually happened the night of the alleged incident?
• What communications have you had with the alleged victim (if any)?
• Does the alleged victim have a history of making false accusations against you or others?

These are just examples. Any information you can provide to your Woodbridge sex crime attorney during your free consultation will be helpful for determining what it makes sense to do next.

3. Avoid Any Communications with Your Accuser

From this point forward, you should avoid any communications with your accuser. Do not respond to any phone calls, text messages or direct messages, and avoid coming into contact with your accuser in person if at all possible. Attempting to confront your accuser is only likely to make your situation worse. Once your attorney has a clear picture of what happened, your attorney will be able to take the necessary steps to work toward clearing your name and having your sex crime charge dismissed.

With that said, we need to emphasize that there are no guarantees. While there are steps your attorney can take to expose the truth, no attorney can promise that he or she will be able to make the accusations against you go away.  

4. Do Not Post Anything Online

Just as you should avoid communicating with your accuser, you should also avoid posting anything about your situation online. Nothing you post online will help with your criminal case, and if prosecutors can find a way to use your posts against you, they will.

If your reputation is at risk, the time to address your situation publicly will come—and, when the time comes, your attorney can help make sure you say the right thing. But, for now, you should keep the details of your case between you and your attorney.

5. Do Not Say Anything to the Police or Prosecutors

Even if you are innocent, when you have been accused of a sex crime, speaking with the police or prosecutors can be risky. With this in mind, unless your attorney advises otherwise, you should avoid speaking with anyone involved with law enforcement directly. If police officers contact you or visit your home or office, you should politely refuse to answer any questions and provide them with your attorney’s contact information.

6. Rely on Your Attorney to Speak on Your Behalf

This relates to everything we’ve said above. When you are facing false accusations of committing a sex crime, you should rely on your attorney to speak on your behalf. An experienced attorney will know what to say (and, equally important, what not to say), and your attorney will be able to deal with any issues that arise on your behalf.

While some people worry that hiring an attorney will make them look guilty, this is not the case. You have every right to hire an attorney to help you prove your innocence, and you also have every reason to do so.

7. Be Prepared to Fight Your False Accusations in Court

As we said above, regardless of the facts of your case, there are no guarantees. While your attorney will work to clear your name as quickly and discreetly as possible, at this stage, it is entirely possible that your case will go to court.

You need to be prepared for this possibility. As you work to move forward, you will need to be prepared to work closely with your attorney to ensure that you are doing everything necessary to protect your reputation and future. If sufficient evidence is available, your attorney might be able to resolve your case quickly and quietly without a trial. But, if going to trial proves to be your best (or only) option, you will need to be ready to present the strongest possible defense under the circumstances at hand.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Woodbridge Sex Crime Attorney Today

Are you facing false accusations of a sex crime in Northern VA? If so, we strongly encourage you to contact us right away. To speak with an experienced Woodbridge sex crime attorney in confidence as soon as possible, call 703-897-1777 or tell us how we can reach you online now.