Sex Crimes Lawyers in Delaware

Helping Our Clients Fight Against Wrongful Accusations

Crimes involving sexual acts are considered extremely heinous, so they typically carry severe penalties. In fact, some of these crimes can result in life imprisonment under Delaware law. If you or a loved one has been accused of such a crime, you may wonder about how to proceed. We’ve seen countless examples of wrongful allegations destroying people’s lives. If you hope to avoid such an outcome, it may be in your best interest to contact a Delaware sex crimes lawyer today.

At Schwartz & Schwartz, Attorneys at Law, we’ve spent years defending the wrongfully accused. We work diligently to ensure our clients are not railroaded by an imbalanced system. In fact, BBC News recently said that — when such allegations are levied — an accused person is often considered “guilty until proven innocent.” This isn’t how the system is supposed to work. Contact us today to learn more about how we can defend you.

Do You Need an Attorney When Charged With Sex Crimes?

When someone is accused of a sex crime, they often believe telling their side of the story will clear their name. We’ll discuss throughout this guide how difficult this can be, but for now, let’s consider an individual who thinks talking to the police is the best way to do this. After all, if authorities hear what really happened, the system should ensure you’re not wrongfully convicted. Right? Unfortunately, the system doesn’t always work like this.

In fact, the Innocence Project has entire archives of individuals who were wrongfully accused of sex crimes and later exonerated. In some cases, these travesties of justice are due to mistaken identity. Unfortunately, there are also many instances where it’s been proven that alleged victims fabricated their stories. You’re likely very aware of what an accusation can lead to, so don’t risk your freedom. Speak with a sex crimes lawyer in Delaware to protect your rights.

What Are the Possible Delaware Sex Crimes?

When people think of sex crimes, rape and child molestation are typically the first things to come to mind. While these certainly fall under the sex crime umbrella, they’re far from the only related charges you may face. If you land on the offender registry, however, you can bet that people will automatically think you’re a rapist or molester. This is particularly troubling since some individuals have found themselves on the registry for public urination and other non-sexual crimes.

If you’re charged for a sex crime in Delaware, though, it will typically fall into one of the following categories:

• Rape
• Statutory rape
• Unlawful sexual contact (USC)
• Indecent exposure
• Possession of child pornography
• Criminal sexual harassment
• Other crimes involving sexual acts

If you’re accused of one of these crimes, it’s only human nature to want to clear your name. Many people believe the quickest way to do this is to simply tell their side of the story to authorities. Unfortunately, this can prove disastrous if you don’t have legal representation. Once you’re suspected of a crime, police typically work from the viewpoint that you’re guilty. This means you’re not getting a fair chance, so reach out to a Delaware sex crimes attorney immediately.

What Should You Do if Your Minor Child Is Accused?

You may one day get a call from the police, school administrators, or other officials asking for permission to interview your child. They may believe your young one engaged in some inappropriate behavior. In every case, your answer to this question should be “no.” Reach out to a criminal defense attorney immediately. The person on the other end of the line may say they just want to “get to the bottom of this,” but in reality, they’re likely ready to ruin your child’s life.

For instance, did you know that a minor can be charged with child pornography in Delaware for “sexting” with their friends? Other teenagers have found themselves on sexual offender registries for having sex with other teenagers. Whatever you do, never believe that authorities or school officials have your child’s best interests in mind. If there’s even a hint that your youngster may be suspected of something inappropriate, do not hesitate to contact a sex crimes attorney in Delaware.

Should You Take a Plea Deal?

If you or a loved one has been accused of sexual crimes in Delaware, you can fully expect the police to act like your best friend during an interrogation. They just “want to figure out the truth,” and if you’re honest with them, “things can go very smoothly.” So they say. In reality, they’re attempting everything in their power — including legally lying to you — in order to get a confession. This is why you need an attorney before speaking with anyone.

Of course, there’s a good chance the prosecutor will eventually offer you a plea deal. Understandably, it will sound appealing. It’ll often be something along the lines of, “If you just plead guilty, we’ll downgrade the charges and you can avoid (specific penalty), or you can go to trial and risk far more severe penalties.” That sounds like a no-brainer, right? Wrong. Any conviction of a sex crime — even if downgraded from other charges — will carry lifelong repercussions. Don’t make any decisions prior to speaking with a Delaware sex crime lawyer.

This brings to mind one case we handled at Schwartz & Schwartz. Our client was arrested and charged with First Degree rape. He sat in jail for months since he couldn’t afford bail, and he even ended up missing Christmas with his family. Once his family hired us, though, we brought in a private investigator to interview the alleged victim. She quickly admitted to lying, and the charges were dropped. However, this would’ve gone very differently had he initially accepted a plea deal.

Contact a Sex Crimes Lawyer in Delaware Today

Far too many people become victims of sexual assault every year, and it’s important to not minimize their experiences. Unfortunately, many studies have also found that 10% or more of these allegations are false. In some cases, this has led to innocent victims being imprisoned for decades — and those are just the cases that we know about. If you’re accused of a sex crime in Delaware, the single most important thing you can do is contact a criminal defense attorney.

At Schwartz & Schwartz, Attorneys at Law, we’ve seen what happens when unfounded allegations ruin a person’s life. Even when charges are dropped or someone is acquitted, the stain on their reputation can remain for years. This is why it’s so important to reach out to a sex crimes lawyer in Delaware to work on your case immediately. Contact us today by calling (302) 678-8700. You may have an uphill battle ahead, but rest assured that we fight diligently for all our clients.