What You Should Do If You’re Accused of Child Molestation in Detroit

If you are accused of child molestation in Michigan, you could be facing time in prison, large fines, and registration as a sex offender. An accusation of child molestation can include a broad range of crimes. The seriousness of the crime and the potential penalties depending on the nature of your relationship with the alleged victim, the age of the alleged victim, and the nature of the allegations. If a weapon was involved, you are facing a more serious crime than if there were verbal threats alleged. You may also face enhanced penalties if you were in a position of power over the victim, such as if you were a doctor, teacher, or step parent at the time the conduct allegedly occurred.

The first thing you should do is contact an experienced sex crimes defense attorney. You may be asked to speak to law enforcement. Don’t give up your rights—speak to a defense attorney first. Call Drias Law Group at (313) 944-0236 or use our online contact form.

Child Molestation Investigations

When children make accusations involving a sex crimes, after a report to law enforcement is made, the children should be interviewed by a child advocate. There are strict protocols and procedures which must be followed during this type of interview to prevent the interviewer from asking leading questions of the child that could suggest what answers are expected by the interviewer.

If you are accused of molestation, you have a right to confront the accuser at trial. This means that your defense attorney may ask questions of the victim in court that may cast reasonable doubt on the facts of the case. The state will present its case first, and then the defense may cross-examine the state’s witness and present evidence.

No Contact Orders

If you have been accused of child molestation, a court will most likely issue a court order that states you are not to have contact with the alleged victim. Violation of a no contact order is taken very seriously, and if you violate the order, your bond could be revoked, and you could be required to remain in jail until your trial date. You could also be accused of witness tampering if you discuss the case with an accuser.

False Accusations

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for parents or relatives to accuse a parent of child abuse when there is an ongoing custody dispute. Even if you are innocent of all charges and were falsely accused, you should talk to an attorney before speaking to anyone else about the allegations, including law enforcement officers.

You are not required to go to talk to the police if you are under arrest—speak to a lawyer before complying with any requests. In many cases, police only want to speak with you to obtain evidence to use against you. Officers are trained in techniques to elicit confessions. Sometimes these techniques work so well that innocent individuals confess to crimes they did not commit.

Sex Offender Registration

If you are convicted of child molestation, you will be required to register as a sex offender. The length of time you will be required to register depends on the seriousness level of your offense and the recommendations of an expert after an assessment is conducted. You will not be required to register prior to a conviction being entered. If you are convicted of a particularly serious offense, you could be required to register as a sex offender for life.

If you are required to register as a sex offender, you must notify the local law enforcement agency whenever you move or whenever your contact information changes. You may be required not to live within a certain distance from a school, daycare, or church. Failure to register is a criminal offense. You could be sentenced to serve time for not notifying law enforcement of your current address, even if you have completed your term of probation or parole, unless a court orders that you are no longer obligated to register.

Registration as a sex offender can adversely affect your employment prospects, your housing situation, your reputation within the community, and your immigration status if you were not born in the United States. The registry may be checked by any individual at any time because the information is shared with the public.

Talk to a Michigan, Detroit Defense Attorney

If you have been accused of a sex crime, you are likely feeling worried and scared about what could happen next. At Drias Law Group, we will pursue your defense aggressively and work to obtain the best possible results for you under the circumstances. We will work to prove your innocence to protect your reputation and the harsh consequences a conviction for child molestation can have on your future. We offer a free consultation so that you can make sure that we are the right lawyers for you. Call our office at (313) 944-0236 to schedule an appointment.