How To Defend Yourself From A Sexual Assault Claim
Getting accused of sexual assault or any other kind of sexually related crime can really turn your entire world upside down. This could be terrible for you if you know for sure that did not do what you are being accused of. If this sounds like your situation, you will need a criminal law attorney who can provide you with a proper defense. Here are some of the ways you can defend yourself from a sexual assault claim.
You Have an Alibi
In some cases, the accuser could be mistaken or confused about what happened or it could be a case of mistaken identity. An assault that took place in a darkened room, for example, might leave the attacker's identity in question. Having a clear alibi could quickly put the case to rest. For example, you can have a witness say you were nowhere near the scene of the crime. If you don't have witnesses, you could show a receipt saying that you were using your debit card somewhere else that is far away from the scene of the crime.
You Had Consent
In some cases, you might say that you did have sex with your accuser but that you had consent to do everything you did. First of all, be warned that trying to use a consent defense might come with some difficulties. If you and the accuser were the only two in the room, it's just your word against the other person's, and sometimes judges and juries are more sympathetic towards the alleged victim. The exact laws around consent will also vary from state to state. But if you have some other type of data such as text messages or a witness who was nearby at the time, you might be able to create at least some reasonable doubt about the accuser's story.
The Accuser Has an Unreliable Past
You could also look into your accuser's past for other examples of them lying or making bad decisions. If, for example, you uncover that the accuser made another bogus claim of sexual assault while in college and then dropped it, you could use this as evidence that the accuser has a history of making false claims. With this case being your word against theirs, anything you do to make the jury or judge doubt the accuser's credibility might work in your favor.
You Need an Attorney
Trying to defend yourself against sexual assault charges can be rough. You need an attorney to get out in front of the case as soon as possible. Contact a local criminal law attorney today for more information.
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