Hi there and welcome back. If you read the first article, you’ll remember we talked about false allegations of abuse in divorce, and why they happen (usually to skew the custody agreement in your favor so that you can get a larger child support payment!) If you didn’t read the first article, we recommend you spent a minute getting caught up. If you’ve already read it, let’s pick up where we left off last time…
If you or a loved one have ever been falsely accused of abusing or neglecting a child, then you already know how terrible it feels to be lied about! To be publicly accused of something you didn’t do is an awful experience! Especially if it’s something you would NEVER have done, not in a million years. But because you’re smart, you went and got yourself the best attorney you could find. Good job! Now you’re armed for battle, but there is still a long fight ahead. So what do you do next?
Take the allegations seriously! Even if they’re not true, they can hurt you!
First, please remember that false allegations are only believed to be false by the police and the prosecutor’s office if they are proven to be lies. Which means that right from the get-go, any claims of abuse are assumed to be true. Even if they’re not. Even if they’re nothing more than vicious lies. So you need to take this very, very seriously! After all, the people working hard to convict you and put you in prison are taking it very seriously. You should do no less.
It’s easy to make the mistake of thinking that because you’re innocent, the charges aren’t really serious, or won’t be carried through to the point of conviction. Unfortunately that’s almost never the case. Brushing it off, or refusing to fight for your rights could land you in prison for life. Innocent or not, you CAN be convicted of a crime you didn’t commit and sentenced to prison. So don’t make the mistake of not taking this seriously. The last thing you want to do is end up as a tragic statistic because of a vindictive spouse!
DO NOT discuss the case with anyone! We cannot stress this enough!
If you’re innocent, you should be free to tell others about how you’ve been falsely accused, right? Wrong! That might make sense out in the rest of the world, but in the legal world it couldn’t be more incorrect. Far too many people have been told they’ll be believed and treated fairly if they are only willing to tell their side of the story. So they do. And later they find out that an officer or social worker is claiming they ‘made a confession’. Their words will be twisted, taken out of context, and used against them.
You have the right to remain silent under the law. USE that right! It’s very important that you not answer ANY questions asked by police officers, detectives, investigators, social workers, CPS case workers or ANYONE else who wants to discuss your case. It doesn’t matter how friendly, helpful or understanding they seem, or how convincingly they promise it’s “just a little misunderstanding that needs clearing up.” DON’T SAY ANYTHING. Politely request your attorney, and then wait until they arrive before you say anything to anyone!
And while this is good advice for dealing with law enforcement, it actually applies to everyone else as well! This means your family, your friends, your clergy, your neighbors, or anyone else who isn’t your attorney! The ONLY person you should be talking to is your attorney. Seriously! Do not anything about your circumstances to anyone without getting explicit permission from your attorney first! It may sound like strange advice, but a misunderstood word can make or break your case. So your best approach is silence!
The better your attorney, the better your chances will be of surviving this!
Join us net time for the next step in your false accusation defense plan! Until then, if you or a loved one have been falsely accused of child abuse or neglect, then you need a highly skilled defense attorney right now! As family law attorneys who have extensive experience handling both divorces and child abuse allegations, we are uniquely placed to help you deal with every aspect of your case. So call The Kronzek Firm right now at 866 766 5245 and protect your future.