What to Do If You’ve Been Accused of Child Molestation?If you’ve been accused of child molestation, you may have no idea what to do next. It’s important to seek legal help as soon as possible and start building a strong defense. At The Law Office of Howard A. Snader, we know that false accusations can destroy your life. When you work with us, we will immediately start defending your reputation and protecting your rights. Call us today at 602-833-1651 to speak to a child molestation attorney and gain a strong advocate on your side.
False accusations of child molestation can arise in many different ways. They are common in divorce and child custody cases. Ex-spouses or partners may try to gain a leg up in a family law case by making a false allegation against you. Courts are familiar with these types of situations, but it’s important to protect yourself. Allegations of child molestation may impact child custody, child visitation, spousal support, divorce, and more.
Other situations may involve daycare, school, or babysitter situations where teachers or caregivers are accused of a crime. These accusations often arise when parents are scared and confused. Children may have been confused or pressured by someone to make assertions about you. It’s important to avoid all contact with the accusers and immediately seek legal assistance to build a strong defense.
If you’ve been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with a child, you may be facing repercussions in your community, among friends and family, and in court. Child molestation accusations can impact every area of your life. Your job may be in jeopardy, and your own family may shy away from you.
If you’ve been accused of child molestation, take the following steps to avoid the harshest consequences:
It can be tempting to contact the person making accusations or their family to try to correct their confusion. However, your contact may actually inflame the situation. In many situations, the court will issue a no contact order or protection order that prohibits your contacting the accuser. It’s best to let your attorney handle the situation and avoid contact altogether. Even if the accuser’s friends or family contact you, do not engage with them. Instead, avoid them altogether.
A confrontation call is one where the victim literally tries to speak with you on the phone while officers are listening. Their goal is simple – get any statement possible. An admission would be devastating. If you are ever contacted in this manner, you have three options:
I only counsel you to either hangup, or invoke counsel without any further dialogue. If you answer the questions, then you are stuck with the answers. And, even if true, and even if there is no admission, you are giving police pieces to their jigsaw puzzle.
The media is quick to respond when someone is facing child molestation charges. If the accusation is public, the press may seek you out to do an interview. It’s important that you don’t talk to them. Do not answer any questions, confirm, or deny anything they ask. If a reporter approaches you, just walk away calmly. If they try to take pictures, you may cover your face or walk in another direction. Do not become aggressive with the media or yell at them. It’s best to completely avoid the press if you’re facing accusations of child molestation.
If you are facing child molestation accusations, you should immediately begin gathering information for your attorney. If there is any physical evidence from the interaction with the accuser, such as clothing or objects, put them in bags and seal them. Also, collect any photographs or video evidence that may be available.
Make sure to print out and preserve text messages, Facebook messages, and other evidence on social media – without communicating with the accuser or their family. If you have emails or other documentation from the alleged situation, put those in envelopes. Present all information and evidence to your attorney immediately.
The most important thing you can do to protect yourself is to contact a Phoenix sex crime attorney. Your attorney understands that false accusations can arise from confusing situations. We will compassionately listen to your story and make sure it is heard. Call The Law Office of Howard A. Snader today.
