It might seem like life is ending after a child molestation charge. In reality, there’s no reason to panic. With the right Seattle criminal defense attorney, you can prove your innocence or have the charge reduced.
This is your guide to moving forward after a child molestation charge in Seattle.
Navigate the Legal System With an Attorney
A child molestation charge has the potential to upend your life. Choose the right Seattle criminal defense attorney and you’ll obtain a better sense of potential consequences. Your attorney will also help develop the optimal legal strategy. Let your attorney surmount the legal challenges and you’ll stand a much better chance of overcoming the allegations so you can return your life to normal.
From reviewing the charge to accumulating evidence, defending you at court hearings, and more, your attorney will navigate the entirety of the legal maze. You will be liberated to remain completely focused on work, family, and friends.
Understand the Reality of the Situation
If you are innocent, you undoubtedly feel as though you are being persecuted. The sad truth is people lie, oftentimes for money or to ruin another’s reputation. Research indicates kids, especially those who are toddlers, are suggestible. A parent or other guardian’s suggestion that something inappropriate occurred might lead a child toward making a false statement. Moreover, there is the potential for medical professionals to find little or even no evidence that molestation occurred.
The challenge lies in proving the truth of the matter to clear your name and return your life to at least a semblance of normalcy. Our Seattle criminal defense attorney goes to great lengths to prove the client’s innocence. We consult with experts in false memory syndrome, medical professionals, and child psychologists.
Be Honest With Your Seattle Child Molestation Defense Lawyer
Your criminal defense attorney in Seattle will ask some personal questions, some of which might be uncomfortable to answer. It is imperative that you tell the truth to your attorney so he or she can develop the best possible legal defense based on facts.
Your attorney understands the complexity of the legal landscape. Your attorney also understands what must be done to defeat the charge.
Ask for Professional Help
If the charge has made it difficult to live normally or if you made a mistake, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Professional counseling will help you get through this difficult chapter of life. Moreover, a willingness to seek mental health counseling indicates you are deserving of mercy from the prosecutor and the court.
If you are proven guilty yet enrolled in psychiatric counseling, your sentence might be reduced, potentially preventing jail or prison time.
Recognize That the Stakes are High
The molestation of a child has the potential to result in a lengthy prison sentence spanning half a decade or even longer. First-degree child molestation is a class A felony. Moreover, a conviction carries a lifelong sexual offender registration listing that makes it difficult to rent apartments near schools and obtain employment in certain fields.
What matters most is that you take the steps necessary to protect yourself from the penalties listed above. Do not answer questions posed by the police until your attorney is present. Even a slight verbal misstep can be construed as an admission of guilt that renders you unemployed and imprisoned.
Learn More During a Consultation With Our Seattle Criminal Defense Attorneys
Your future hangs in the balance after a child molestation charge. Contact Jennifer right away for a consultation.