Under the U.S. Constitution, every person is "innocent until proven guilty." Unfortunately, while the law is obligated to follow this just declaration, American society is not so unbiased - meaning your coworkers, friends and family may turn on you well before you ever even have the chance to dispute the terrible charges against you.
In the case of child molestation and child sex abuse, the mere allegations of such a horrendous crime are often enough to damage your personal and social relationships as well as cause you to endure a wave of backlash from the media. Other areas of your life that may suffer due to a false child molestation charge include your job (current or future), privacy, citizenship status (if you are not an American citizen) and finances.
At the Neal Davis Law Firm, we believe you are innocent until proven otherwise and we have a history of successfully defending our clients from false charges. A rigorous defense is your constitutional right, and we have been able to secure positive outcomes in thousands of cases like yours.
It's time to get someone on your side who can defend your innocence and sort fact from fable.
"This man saved my life from false imprisonment. Neal's belief in 'liberty and justice for all' as laid out in the Constitution of the United States, and especially as that principle relates to constitutional rights regarding the receipt of a fair trial, coupled with his refusal to quit fighting, are attributes of a noble spirit and a man of high character. When I interviewed Neal to defend me against very serious false accusations and criminal charges that followed, his candor about what I was up against and his real interest in my general welfare made choosing him to defend me a 'no brainer.' Hiring Neal after hearing Dick DeGuerin say 'Neal is a real fighter' was the best decision I could have made and this was after interviewing a number of attorneys. He cares about people, truth, and justice; an attorney who will not give up; a man who will defend the rights of anyone accused of a crime with every fiber of his being to ensure fairness and the protection of our legal rights."
While catching the real culprits of child sex crimes is beneficial to ensure the safety of society, it is often the innocents who suffer. Misunderstandings and false accusations of child molestation or sexual abuse are more common than you might think. Every day innocent people are wrongfully charged with a child sex abuse crime.
In many child molestation cases, ulterior or underlying motives are to blame, as the following common scenarios show:
It was once widely believed that children could be taken at their word when they accused someone of child molestation because they lacked sufficient knowledge of such a crime to invent a false allegation. In fact, many judges and officials continue to believe this misconception. The reality is that today's children often have access to sexually explicit material (i.e. movies, Internet, magazines, television, etc.) from an early age and young kids can easily be influenced by manipulative adults with an ulterior motive.
The state of Texas defines child molestation as a crime involving "indecency, sexual contact, or sexual abuse…of anyone under the age of 17." Molestation of a child under the age of 14 is more severely punished, even for first-time offenders. Actions that are considered "child sex abuse" or "molestation" in Texas include:
A child sex offense also occurs when an individual or group attempts to "arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person" by exposing their anus or any part of their genitals while knowing a child is present or causing the child to expose any part of their genitalia.
Other terms used to refer to child molestation include pedophilia, child sex abuse, child sexual assault, statutory rape and indecent contact.
Under Texas sex crime law, engaging in sexual contact, abuse or indecency with anyone under the age of 17 is punishable as a felony.
Being convicted for a third-degree felony like indecency with a child by contact or indecency with a child by exposure can earn the defendant up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
More abusive cases of child molestion, such as continued or aggravated sexual assault, are categorized as first-degree felonies and penalties can range anywhere from 5 to 99 years of imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.
Unlike other crimes, there is no statute of limitations for child molestation charges and child sex offenses - meaning an investigation can be started at any time for a suspected criminal act that occurred in an individual's past.
If you or a loved one have been falsely accused of sexually molesting or abusing a child, then it is important for you to understand this truth: There is nothing you can say to prove your innocence. Many people's first instinct is to try pleading their case to police investigators, Child Protective Services and other authorities. This is a huge mistake. Anything you say can, and will, be used against you in court.
When facing an investigation or charge for child molestation, individuals in Houston and throughout Texas should immediately contact experienced sex crime defense lawyer Neal Davis of the Neal Davis Law Firm. He is often able to favorably resolve sex crime cases quickly and quietly, without the need for trial. If a trial is necessary, Neal has experience obtaining acquittals and mistrials (followed by dismissals) and winning reversals on appeal.
The time to act is now. Serving the greater Houston area - including Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend counties - Neal Davis focuses on defense strategies for both state and federal cases throughout Texas. Contact the Neal Davis Law Firm to schedule your case evaluation.
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