Many individuals make the mistake of representing themselves in sex crime cases, not realizing the grave risk they're putting themselves in. When you engage with law enforcement on a sex crime matter, you're essentially making yourself a target. The investigators' goal is to gather information that can be used against you in court.

It's almost a no-win situation because I've seen — even when somebody says, I'm innocent, I didn't do anything wrong — the next thing you know, there's some statement in there that the prosecutors are using that the person claims that they didn't say.  So, then, it's your word against the officer's word.

Don't Make Statements To Police

Why take any chances?  Refrain from making any statements to the police.  Remember, you're not going to talk your way out of it.  The system is not in your favor.  The police are not there to prove your innocence,  but rather to establish your guilt. The alleged victim has likely already provided them with information and possibly even some witnesses.

So, they're not going to listen to what you say.  They're going to try to take what you say and use it against you.  They're going to try to get you to make a statement that they can later use against you.

Even if you had consensual sex with somebody, if someone's claiming that you violated them in some way sexually, just admitting that you had sex with them gives the prosecutors half of their case.  Even if it was consensual, they're going to say, one, they've had sex with the person, and two, the person is saying it wasn't consensual.

It's simply not worth engaging with the police directly. The best way to create a buffer between you and the prosecutors is to hire a criminal defense attorney.  Let them handle all communication with the prosecutors, including any questions they may have. Sometimes, it takes time for the prosecutors to decide whether to file charges, and during this period, your attorney will guide you on the best course of action.

But, waiting with a criminal defense attorney who can advise you along the way, and if something does happen where you get arrested, that attorney can snap into action and help to get you out of custody.  And also, if the prosecutors have any questions, they're not allowed to call you.  They'd have to send the police out to talk to you, but if you have an attorney, they can go to that attorney and ask them the questions.

Retain a Criminal Attorney To Deal With Police

So, it's just a much easier and smarter way to handle things by hiring a criminal defense attorney when you're under investigation for a sex crime, versus trying to handle it yourself.  I've almost never seen anybody help themselves in a sex crime case when they handle it themselves. By taking this step, you're empowering yourself and taking control of the situation rather than feeling vulnerable and at the mercy of the legal system. This sense of empowerment can make a significant difference in how you navigate through this challenging time.

Either they say or do something that incriminates them, or it's simply a push, and whatever they say or do is meaningless.  But why would you take the chance that either you might say or do something that they could use against you, or the police manipulate what you say and claim they say you said or did something that you really didn't do?

One significant advantage of pre-filing, which is the period before prosecutors decide whether to file charges, is having an attorney who can effectively deal with the police. That way, there's no chance you will say or do anything that could be used against you.

Also, a lot of times, the police will get the alleged victim to call you and try to get you to say something incriminating. This is known as a pretext phone call, a tactic employed by law enforcement to gather evidence. You don't want to get engaged in anything like this, and you don't want to make any statements to anybody.

If you believe that you are under investigation for a sex crime, you should hire an attorney immediately.  Give the attorney all of the information related to the case.  Please don't leave anything out, and let the attorney handle it.  Let the attorney guide you all the way through the process if you want to get the best possible result. By being thorough and proactive in providing all the information, you're taking a responsible and active role in your defense. This proactive approach can significantly impact the outcome of your case.

If you've already done some things and said some things, it's not too late to stop the damage that's going to be coming your way when you're the target of a sex crime investigation.  Let your attorney take over.  Let them talk to the prosecutor and let them advise you on your next best moves related to your case.

Once you hire an attorney, you'll feel a huge sense of satisfaction because you'll know you're doing everything you can to protect your rights, your freedom, and your reputation.