Defense Strategies For Sex Crimes

 Posted on March 10, 2023 in Criminal Law

Being charged with a sex crime can have life-changing consequences. It can destroy your family, career, and reputation. In Illinois, if there is a conviction you could spend years in prison and be required to register as a sex offender. It is important to have an experienced attorney to help you build a robust defense to fight sex crime charges. Attorney Scott Anderson is a former prosecutor and he knows how to stay one step ahead of the other side.

Silence

If you have been accused of a sex crime, silence is the best course to protect yourself. Do not answer police questions especially if they coerce you into talking. It is simply a tactic to attain information. Under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, you have the right to avoid answering questions that may be self-incriminatory. The best way to do this is to say nothing and simply request to see your attorney.

The Matter of Consent

Sex crimes often hinge on whether or not there was consent. The accuser will claim he or she did not consent while the accused will claim that the other person agreed to have sex. There are rarely witnesses so it becomes which side is more credible. A seasoned attorney will investigate the accuser. That could involve looking into phone records, texts, social media posts, and much more. Part of an aggressive defense strategy includes preparing the accused to testify in a trial if needed.

Creating Reasonable Doubt

A skilled attorney will help you find evidence that contradicts the serious charges leveled against you. This evidence can be used to cast doubt on the prosecution’s claim. Criminal charges are held to the highest possible standard of proof. In other words, the prosecution must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. By finding inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case, you may be able to weaken their arguments and demonstrate that there is reasonable doubt about your guilt.

Revealing False Accusations

We know that not everyone who is accused of a sex crime committed a sex crime. Some people use false accusations of sexual assault or other sex crimes to seek revenge. There are situations in which someone may regret an encounter involving consensual sex and then say it was non-consensual. There have been circumstances involving divorce, in which one parent may even allege child sexual abuse to gain child custody. An experienced lawyer knows how to dig for information and present evidence that damages the accuser’s credibility or trustworthiness.

Contact a Rolling Meadows, IL Sex Crime Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been charged with a sex crime, the penalties are severe if convicted. You need an Arlington Heights, IL criminal defense attorney with Scott F. Anderson, Attorney at Law who knows how to build a vigorous defense strategy. Call 847-253-3400 for a free and confidential consultation.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=1876&ChapterID=53