3 Critical Things to Do When Falsely Accused of a Sexual Assault Crime

It is unjust to be charged with a crime that you did not commit and not guilty of. What is even worse is there is zero guarantee that the charges against you will result in an acquittal. There is no assurance that the court will consider you innocent. Unfortunately, being accused falsely of a crime, especially sexual assault, does occur if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you find yourself with this serious charge, you need to take immediate action by contacting a criminal defense attorney Phoenix to protect yourself and your rights.

Realize the consequences of the charge

You have to realize the level of trouble you are facing. You must understand the consequences if you underestimate the legal consequences that one wrong move can have on your life. But it is unfortunate that most people get into a level of denial and do not realize the trouble they are in. Because of this, they fail to make the right decision and find themselves in more legal trouble than they started with. For example, allegations of child sexual abuse may arise during a divorce case, and you feel that it has little implication. Your attorney might dismiss it and say they have no case.

Because of this, you simply do nothing until you find that criminal charges are being filed. Had you acted adequately upon the accusations, the cost will only be a fraction compared to when things got out of hand.

Under Phoenix, Arizona law, statutory rape, which is sexual conduct with a minor, is defined as an act of intentional or knowing engagement in sexual intercourse or sexual contact with a person who is not yet 18. If the individual is under the age of 15, the charges will be a class II felony. If the victim is at least 15 years old, the following charge will be class VI.

Choose the best attorney to represent you

The best criminal defense attorney in Phoenix will have the capacity to represent you well. Keep in mind that attorneys have specializations. Some specialize in drug cases while others on speeding tickets. Some are excellent at representing women in custody cases. Although these attorneys are good in their specialization, they may not be good in the kind of case you require. It is critical to check the lawyer you are considering hiring. It is a smart move to ask for their credentials and determine the number of cases similar to yours they have handled.

Build an ammunition chest

A majority of people don’t want to hear that this kind of case will be costly. When you are falsely charged with a sexual crime such as child abuse or rape, there is a high probability of being convicted of criminal charges. There is an increased risk of conviction unless you take decisive steps to prevent issues from becoming more complicated and out of hand.

Under Phoenix, Arizona state law, sexual assault is considered the act of intentional or knowing engagement in sexual intercourse, including oral sexual contact with another individual but without their permission. These types of convictions will result in class II felony. Meaning you are not eligible for sentence suspension, pardon or even release from confinement.

Conclusion

Sexual crime is a serious issue, and you need to defend yourself for an acquittal or at least mitigate your sentence.

Under Phoenix, Arizona law, sexual conduct with a minor is considered a class VI felony. It can result in up to 2 years in prison or up to 3 years of supervised probation. It might even involve over $150,000 in fines if the felony is a class II; you can be sentenced to a minimum of 7 years. The maximum prison time you can incur is 12 ½ years. Because of this, it is critical to contact a criminal defense attorney in Phoenix.