A sexual assault charge could throw your whole world into turmoil. First, there is the social stigma associated with being accused of physically violating another person. And then there are the legal costs and awkwardness inherent in having to defend yourself.
Under such stressful circumstances, many people would just as soon keep the issue off the radar and accept a plea bargain if at all possible. And in some situations, that could be the best option. However, if you are coming under legal scrutiny for an alleged sexual assault, you should weigh all of your options prior to committing to a plea.
For one thing, you may have a valid defense to present to the court. For example, if the alleged assault was actually a consensual act, it may be possible to gather evidence to that effect.
Likewise, if you can demonstrate that you have an alibi proving that you were not present at the place and time a sexual assault is alleged to occurred, that could also help you receive a favorable outcome.
But most importantly, bear in mind that in order to get a conviction, the prosecution must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. And this is why before you sign a confession, you should strongly consider telling your version of the alleged events to an experienced criminal defense attorney.
An attorney can work on your behalf to secure eyewitness testimony, forensic evidence and other evidence to challenge the prosecution’s case. An attorney can act on your behalf in an effort to help you avoid conviction, which can be a key element to protecting your reputation and future prospects.