Sex Offenses

All too often, allegations of sexual abuse are raised during custody disputes and relationship breakups. The impact of these allegations can be devastating. A person convicted of a sex offense faces substantial jail time, sexual deviancy treatment, employment restrictions, and in many cases, a lifelong requirement to register as a sex offender.

We recognize the emotional turmoil that results from the mere filing of charges. As such, we are committed to helping our clients through this difficult period. We will do everything possible to ensure these allegations do not ruin our clients’ lives.

Before Charges are Filed

The time to contact an attorney is when you first learn of the allegations. Do not wait for the police to approach you or for the prosecutor to file charges against you. Early intervention can sometimes prevent charges from being filed or an arrest warrant being issued. An attorney can often present information to the prosecutor or detective that you would not be able to do on your own.

If the police contact you to “just ask a few questions,” you should politely decline to do so. There is a mistaken belief that if you have done nothing wrong it is okay to talk with the police. But too often we have seen innocent words taken out of context or misquoted in a police report. Play it safe. Refuse to engage in conversation and call an attorney.

Do not talk to anyone else about the allegations against you. Ministers, priests, therapists, psychologists, and counselors are all “mandatory reporters.” This means that if they interpret anything you say as an admission that you have abused a child, they are required by law to report it to law enforcement. Under certain circumstances, even conversations with a spouse may not be privileged. Before you talk with anyone, you should consult an attorney.

Challenging the State’s Evidence

We know from our many years of practice that innocent people are often charged with these types of offenses. The first step in any defense is a critical evaluation of the State’s evidence. This means looking at the motives people might have to lie or in some cases, to set children up to lie. We investigate whether the complaining witness has a history of making similar false complaints. We look at whether the police obtained evidence illegally and challenge the validity of all search warrants issued in the case. Because the police sometimes rely upon computer and metadata analysis conducted by their own technicians, we bring in our own experts, usually with more experience, to examine those findings. Most importantly, we work with you in discovering the true story of the case that we present to the prosecutor, judge and jury.

Making the Best of a Bad Situation

Everyone deserves to be treated with respect. All too often that does not happen. Prosecutors and judges reading a police report tend to see defendants as one-dimensional villains. This perspective makes it easy to impose a harsh sentence without considering the individual circumstances. One of the important tasks for a good defense attorney is to humanize the client, to help the prosecutor understand that in addition to the flaws, there is goodness in the person. We take the time to know our clients, to understand their achievements and the value they bring to the world. In that way, when appropriate, we can craft a fair settlement that minimizes the disruption in our clients’ lives.