5 Ways to Protect Yourself from Indecency With a Child Charges

Accusations of indecency with a child can derail a person’s entire life. Whether the allegations are true or not, they carry a tremendous amount of stigma. If you are dealing with accusations of indecency, you need quality legal protection from an experienced lawyer.

When you’re up against such serious charges, professional legal help is necessary to defend your case. If you hire a skilled California indecency with a child defense lawyer, you’ll get the legal defense you need.

Here are some ways to protect yourself against these charges and find legal solutions.

What Is Indecency With a Child?

Indecency with a child refers to exposing a child to sexuality. There are two main categories that these acts fall into. These two categories are treated differently, however, and each one has different potential penalties.

• Sexual contact – Also known as fondling, this act includes touching a child sexually or making a child touch someone else sexually. 
• Indecent exposure – This includes exposing one’s genitals to a child or making a child expose themselves to others. 

A lawyer who specializes in sex crime charges can help the accused understand the difference between the two and the potential consequences they carry.

Being convicted of this type of crime will also require registration as a sex offender, which is a distinction that follows people throughout their lives. If you’re facing indecency charges, high-quality legal protection is a necessity.

How Can a Lawyer Help?

Anyone facing criminal charges can benefit from hiring a defense lawyer. In the case of indecency with a child, a lawyer is essential. This type of case is highly stigmatized, and the accusation alone can have people assuming the worst. However, an indictment or even an arrest doesn’t mean that a person is guilty.

Choosing an experienced defense lawyer means you’ll get expert advice from a professional to help you through this difficult time. Ideally, you’ll have a lawyer who has helped many others through the same situation you are experiencing.

You’ll need to address these charges aggressively to prove your innocence. An attorney can use the law to your advantage, investigate allegations, and form a defense tailored to your unique case. These are essential for dealing with charges of indecency with a child.

When choosing an indecency with a child attorney in California, consider the lawyer’s amount of experience in this field. Here are several factors to help you decide if an attorney will be a good fit to handle your case.

1. Choose an Experienced Attorney

Anytime you hire an attorney, you need to vet them carefully and ensure they have experience in the particular area your case involves. This is especially true when dealing with matters that focus on sensitive issues like indecency with a child.

Not every attorney has the skills or knowledge to help you navigate this type of charge. Years of experience working on this type of case give lawyers an edge and the ability to strategize effectively. They’ve seen what works in court and what doesn’t, and they can use tried and tested strategies to help the court see your point of view.

2. Consider Your Defense Carefully

Your attorney will develop your defense using years of legal training and experience dealing with indecency cases. However, you’ll also get some input on the approach you take for your defense.

Depending on the specifics of your case, you can deny the allegations or choose an affirmative defense.

An affirmative defense provides evidence that negates your liability for criminal activity. One example is the typical Romeo and Juliet defense, which protects young people accused of indecency with a child. This defense argues that the smaller age difference changes the context of the act, making it non-criminal. 

3. Prove That the Allegations Are False

For many clients, experienced lawyers aim to prove that the case is based on false allegations from a child. Typically, this involves finding a motive for the child to make up allegations.

An experienced attorney will investigate the allegations thoroughly and find potential motives like a divorce, a bias against the accused, or the desire to “get back” at an adult. 

False accusations can occur when children are confused, misled, or even acting out. These can pop up during a divorce, for example, if a child desires to live with the other parent. In some cases, an adult will coach a child to tell lies about abuse as a way to get revenge on the accused. 

4. Determine Exposure to Sexual Material

If a child has made accusations against you, the child’s credibility may be bolstered by a detailed knowledge of sexual acts that most children aren’t aware of. A defense attorney may attempt to prove that the child was exposed to sexual material through other means and that this exposure provided that knowledge.

For example, an unsupervised child could have learned about sexual terms and acts from television, movies, and the internet. This can be vital to a defense case, and your lawyer can launch an effective investigation into these matters.

5. Prepare Carefully for Public Appearances

Once you have been accused of indecency with a child, your actions will be under scrutiny. An attorney can offer guidance and training to prepare you for the unique experience of going to trial.

Together, you can develop a strategy for how you will speak and present yourself during the trial. It’s important to appear trustworthy and not react too strongly as you deal with what is likely a painful subject matter.

Most people have never experienced anything like giving testimony in court. It can be nerve-wracking and cause a defendant to misspeak or act strangely. Thus, preparation for this moment is an integral part of your case.

Consult With a Professional Defense Lawyer Today!

Proper guidance from your attorney can protect you from the worst of indecency with child charges.

LibertyBell Law Group is a team of top lawyers working together to handle even the most challenging defense cases. We offer free consultations to help you determine if we’re a good fit for your needs, so get in touch today to schedule an appointment!