At Lotze Mosley, LLP, our criminal defense attorneys in Washington D.C. and Maryland know that people are falsely accused of crimes every day throughout the United States.
Unfortunately, the once promised “innocent until proven guilty” mantra protected by the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution does not extend into the court of public opinion.
That means the accused can suffer damage to their reputation, and personal and professional consequences before seeing the inside of a courtroom.
If you have been falsely accused of a crime no matter how major or minor the following tips may help protect you going forward.
Maintain Your Right to Remain Silent
If you have been accused of a crime you did not commit, do not answer any questions from the police or district attorney’s office until you have spoken with an experienced criminal defense attorney.
When you are read your Miranda Rights during an arrest, maintain your right to remain silent, to avoid making self-incriminating statements.
The police can be manipulative and have decades of experience tricking someone accused of a crime into confessing to something they did not do.
Do not let them lie to you which they can legally do to solicit a response.
Remain silent and invoke your right to counsel right away.
Never Agree to a Search of Your Property or Provide a DNA Sample
The police, detectives, or investigators will often use the line that, “If you do not have anything to hide” let us: Search your home, search your car, collect your DNA.
Do not agree to any of their requests.
Ensuring the police have a valid warrant will better ensure your rights are protected and all legal procedures are followed.
Unless it is court-ordered, you have the right to decline any searches or tests, and you definitely should.
Do Not Attempt to Contact the Person or Party That Accused You of a Crime
Certain accusations leave our clients feeling angry that someone would accuse them of a crime.
This is common during false allegations of a sex crime or when someone blames another person for a crime he or she committed, which leads to them getting picked up by the police.
If you have been falsely accused of a crime, never contact the person who made the allegation.
This can only harm your case, as you could be accused of trying to intimidate them.
Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney in Washington D.C. and Maryland at Lotze Mosley, LLP Right Away
A major mistake innocent people make is believing that their innocence will set them free.
Sadly, that is not true.
Other times, the police or investigators will convince them that “only guilty people need an attorney.”
That is also not true.
Contacting and partnering with a skilled criminal defense attorney will ensure your rights are protected from the beginning. Your experienced criminal defense lawyer will also investigate the charges, the evidence, and the legal process that led to your arrest and interrogation to pursue the best outcome which could include having the charges dropped.
Contact our experienced criminal defense attorneys in Washington D.C. and Maryland at Lotze Mosley, LLP to determine the best course of action for your unique case by calling 202-393-0535 today.
