Three Things You Shouldn’t Do When Charged With a Sex Crime 

Being charged with a sex crime can be an intense and frightening experience. A sex crime conviction can haunt you for the rest of your life, which is why you should act immediately to protect your rights and fight for a favorable outcome.  

There are certain things you should and should not do when facing charges for a sex crime. A skilled criminal defense attorney can defend your rights and walk you through every step of the process.  

Before I became a criminal defense attorney and founded Walker Law LLC, I served as a police officer in the greater St. Louis area for 14 years. This experience gave me a better understanding of the criminal justice system from the inside and allowed me to see firsthand the devastating effects of sex crime charges on people’s lives.  

As a criminal defense attorney in Chesterfield, Missouri, I am dedicated to providing trusted representation to clients charged with sex crimes and other offenses. I also serve people facing criminal charges throughout St. Louis County and Charles County.  

Brief Overview of Sex Crimes in Missouri  

If you are accused of committing a sex crime in Missouri, it is essential to know the law. An experienced attorney will help you understand the charges you are facing and help you develop the most effective strategies to defend you. Missouri is known for its harsh punishments for people who are found guilty of sex crimes. Some of the sex crimes that my law firm – Walker Law LLC – handles include: 

• Statutory rape 

• Rape 

• Sexual assault 

• Prostitution 

• Sodomy 

• Child molestation 

• Child pornography 

Possible penalties for sex crimes include imprisonment, hefty fines, registration on a sex offenders list, and others. The penalties for a sex crime depend on the type of offense committed, the facts of the case, and the ages of the people involved. Regardless of the sex crime you are accused of, you need to speak with a skilled criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to find out how to fight the charges and reduce or avoid the stiff penalties of a sex crime conviction.  

What Not to Do After Being Charged With a Sex Crime 

Knowing what to do when facing criminal charges is important. However, knowing what not to do after being charged with a sex crime may be even more critical to the outcome of your case. Unfortunately, many people who face criminal charges for a sex crime make mistakes that can cost them their freedom. The three things you should avoid when facing sex crime charges include: 

1. Using social media. Posting anything about your case on social media can have serious repercussions. Anything you post on your social media account can be used against you. The same can be said about private messages on social media. Those private messages are not necessarily “private” because the prosecution could gain access to your messages when investigating your sex crime case. In fact, posting anything on social media, even if it is not directly connected to the alleged victim or the case, can ultimately hurt your case, which is why it may be best to stay away from social media until your case is resolved.  

2. Talking to the police without your attorney. If you were arrested or are under investigation for a sex crime, do not talk to the police, even if it seems that they leave you no choice but to answer their questions. You can invoke your right to remain silent and say that you do not want to answer any questions without your attorney present. Many people who face charges mistakenly believe that remaining silent will be treated as an admission of fault. However, that is not the case. In reality, you can make your situation much worse if you choose to talk to the police without your attorney present.  

3. Attempting to contact the alleged victim. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people facing sex crime charges to contact the alleged victim and tell them to change their story or retract their allegations. However, having any contact with the alleged victim of a sex crime is never a good idea, even if you know for a fact that the accusations are false. Attempting to contact the accuser or anyone in their inner circle could make your situation much worse because anything you say to the victim can be used against you at trial.  

Do not take the sex crime charges against you lightly. If you were charged with a sex crime, you might want to consider contacting a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney to protect your rights and handle every aspect of your case. Your attorney will help you avoid mistakes when facing criminal charges and advise you on your best course of action.    

Don’t Risk Your Future. Call Now. 

Being accused of a sex crime can be a life-altering experience. However, you could make the situation much worse if you do not know what steps to take. As a criminal defense attorney who represents people facing sex crime charges in Chesterfield and other parts of Missouri, I can help you understand what things you should and should not do when charged with a sex crime. Reach out today to talk about your case.