If someone is charged with a sex crime, the Commonwealth will try to prosecute that person to the full extent of the law. Even if someone thinks it is something they can easily explain away, they should understand that the Commonwealth is after the person at this point and they should take it very seriously.
Knowing what to do following a Virginia sex crimes charge could make a difference in the outcome of a case. For help building a strong defense against the charges you face, contact an experienced defense attorney as soon as possible.
The accused should not talk to the police without an attorney present. Officers are trained to elicit confessions from people. That is their job, to get someone to tell on themselves and make the prosecution easier. They are allowed to lie to the person in order to get a confession.
An accused individual should not talk before contacting a lawyer. They should have a lawyer present at all times. The moment that someone is contacted by the police, they need to contact a lawyer in order to put themselves in the best position possible to not go to jail for a long time.
Typically, sex crimes are charged as felony offenses. There are misdemeanor sex crimes, but most of the time, they are going to be charged as felonies. Mainly, the felonies are going to include, but are not limited to, rape, sodomy, and carnal knowledge. Every now and again, there will be a misdemeanor sexual battery and failure to register offenses.
There are some things such as mandatory jail time, sex offender classes, and things that someone has to do if they are convicted anywhere in the state. Virginia prosecutes to the fullest extent of the law, especially when there are children involved.
Whenever someone is dealing with any kind of crime, the authorities generally have all of the information, and they are not contacting them in order to eliminate them as a suspect. When authorities contact someone, they are likely of the impression that the person has committed a crime. They are essentially trying to get as much information out of the person as possible in order to make prosecuting the person as easy as possible.
An accused person is at a disadvantage when they walk into a police station. It is important to hire a lawyer because a lawyer can level the playing field. A lawyer gives the person an opportunity to know what is going on, to have somebody on their side who is there to protect them, and to put them in the best position to protect themselves in the investigation. Following a Virginia sex crimes charge, contact a skilled criminal defense attorney immediately.
Northern Virginia Criminal Defense Group