If your job involves working with children, the chances are excellent for you to be falsely accused of child molestation or inappropriate behavior.
Not all allegations are valid and may be based on error or misunderstanding. For instance, the child may misunderstand something an adult has done. Or, there may be a possibility that you, as an adult, misunderstand the little one’s description of the event.
Irrespective of a false accusation scenario, the effects are usually devastating. A moment’s misinterpretation may lead to custody or divorce, tarnish your reputation, affect your liberty and every aspect of your life.
The repercussions may be heart-wrenching when a child accuses an adult he doesn’t even know or has had zero interactions with the accused. Studies show that children accuse an adult just because they resemble or remind them of a particular person.
What to do if you’re Accused of Molestation?
It is wise to know that accusations of inappropriate sexual behavior are considered a serious offense. These accusations may lead to criminal investigations, child welfare referrals, or even suspension from employment.
However, if you’ve been accused of the offense, make sure to follow some steps. These are:
- Avoid Making Statements:
If an investigator, law enforcement officer, or even someone you know questions you about the charge, never answer these. Legal professionals suggest never making any statements or even engaging in any conversations until you’ve consulted your attorney.
A statement of denial may prove to be tricky in such a situation. For instance, making statements such as “I did not touch the child inappropriately” may mean something against you.
Also, if your employer questions you, ascertain exercising caution. Not answering the question may lead to a loss of employment if you don’t respond on the spot. However, the chances are excellent for them to turn your statements over to law enforcement.
Thereby, your best bet can be you contact a sex crime attorney as soon as you hear anything. Never ignore- even if it’s a rumor of being accused of a crime like a child molestation. It can have long-lasting effects, after all.
- Speak to a Sexual Crime Attorney Right Away:
The moment you hear sparks of you being a child molester- even if these are just rumors- make sure to reach out to an attorney. The lawyers have the experience and skills to provide advice and information.
Be honest with your attorney when you’re investigated for molestation. Let them know about the situations that might have been misconstrued as an offense. For instance, a person accusing may have a hidden intention behind accusing you of the crime.
The sex crime attorney may fight for you in court using all this information. The expert will prove that you did not do the things you’ve been accused of doing. In addition to advising you, the attorney may begin communicating to all the people questioning you on your behalf.
What Steps Should You Take?
If you’ve been falsely accused, here are some essential steps you should take:
- Gather physical evidence, if any, in your possession that relates to your relationship with the victim. These may be clothing, objects, photos, or videos.
- Gather and preserve the records or documents related to accusations, such as emails, records, and letters. These documents further help you show that you weren’t present with the victim at the location or time when the incident took place. Some of these may be GPS records, phone or computer records.
- Brainstorm and come up with a list of all the possible witnesses. Ensure these people have information about the accusation and your relationship with the child. Obtain their contact information like address contact details, among other things.
Make sure to share all these records and information with your attorney.
What Can Be the Consequences of the Accusation?
Being convicted of the crime is one of the most common yet serious concerns based on false accusations of child molestation. The accused may be:
- Sentenced to time in prison, which may even be a life sentence in some states.
- Placed on probation for extended periods.
- May be required to register as a sex offender.
- Lose Employment.
- Lose professional licenses like those to practice medicine, psychology, or other professions.
- Lose custody of the children (occurs when the victim wasn’t his child) and acquire permission to have only supervised contact with the child/children.
Know that accusations alone drive media attention or other publicity, resulting in severe consequences outside the criminal prosecutions.
The Verdict
In a world where sexual allegation gains utmost importance and justice, take control of the process and protect yourself from a future label. Therefore, as an accused, you must take timely steps to prevent the accumulating charges. And consulting the right sex criminal lawyer is the first step in the process.
