A sexual offense is a form of crime that affects your body’s private and personal nature. It could involve physical contact, molestation, forced sexual acts, rape, or any other form of sexual assault. Sexual offenses can lead to severe injury or even death for the victim. These cases often get extensive media coverage because of their violence and violation of trust. Today, we will discuss the legal strategies you need to know to protect yourself if you are convicted of a sexual crime and how an experienced sexual assault lawyer can save you.
How do you defend yourself when you are convicted of a sexual crime? This article will tell you what to do and what not to do if accused of sexual offenses.
What is a sexual crime?
People’s view on sexual assault has changed in the last few decades. Here, we are not talking about rape and assault; we are talking about consent. More young people have been engaging in consensual-s ex than before in recent years. Due to these changes, there are more sexual assaults than before. Let us look at how this change in mentality may have led to increased sexual assaults.
Depending on the states, examples of a sexual crime can be s ex trafficking, child pornography, s ex tourism, kidnapping for committing a s ex offense, etc.
Some legal strategies that you can follow to save yourself are described hereafter.
Silence is the key
Your right to remain silent is a key part of the legal system in the US. It is a right that can keep you safe during an investigation. It does not mean saying nothing will help your case, but it means not talking to the police in any way without a lawyer present and knowing what possible questions they may have for you. Remember, they are there to catch you; do not send them on a wild-goose chase if it is clear that your case is not worth pursuing.
Challenge the forensic evidence
Digital evidence like emails, messages, photographs, screenshots, etc., plays a vital role in such cases. You can always challenge the storage devices from where the evidence was retrieved. You can challenge it with your experts. Any defects in the analysis or collection process can be a ground to suppress the evidence or dismiss the case.
Source of the accusations
The source of the accusations is very important in these cases. If the accuser has a history of allegations against the defendant, it lowers the witness’s reliability. On the other hand, the relationship between the defendant and the accuser matters greatly. If you can lower the accuser’s credibility, it may also turn the entire case into question.
The penalty of a sexual crime
The punishment of a sexual crime depends on the state’s law. For example, sexual assault is considered a second-degree felony in Texas. The penalty can be a prison time of up to 20 years and a fine of up to 10,000 USD. The convicted will get a lifetime sex-offender registration requirement with the national sex-offender registry, and the record will be publicly accessible.
Talk to an attorney
In such cases, you should always consult with a sexual crime lawyer as soon as possible. Your attorney will try to make sure that your case is handled in the best way possible and minimize or eliminate future problems regarding any violations of state laws.
Finally, according to the National Center for Victims of Crime, one in five women faces sexual assault during her lifetime. If you are convicted of such a crime at any stage of your life, you must not hesitate to call your attorney.
