If you’re being accused of assault, it can completely upend your life. Even if you’re ultimately found innocent in court, your reputation may be damaged in ways that are difficult to recover from. And if you’re found guilty, you could end up in prison for years. Talk to an assault lawyer in East Texas right away to mount a strong defense and to get to work getting your name cleared.
What to Do If You’re Accused of Assault
Stay Quiet
The number one, most important rule is to stay quiet. Your first instinct will be to “clear things up,” possibly by talking to your accuser. You absolutely must not do this; it will make the situation worse. If a person is accusing you of assault, even if they have completely made up the accusation, trying to contact them could be construed as intimidation.
Don’t talk to the police, either. Law enforcement may try to tell you that if you just explain what happened, they can help. The implication is that, once you explain things, they’ll let you go and drop the charges. Do not fall for this: if they have brought you in for questioning or arrested you, they almost certainly believe that you are guilty and are looking for anything they can use against you.
No matter what the situation, the best way to protect yourself is to stay quiet and ask for your lawyer immediately. Even if they end up putting you under arrest, your lawyer will work to get you out quickly.
Call an Assault Lawyer in East Texas
Next, the moment you’re provided the opportunity, call a lawyer. Don’t assume that just because the accusation isn’t true, it will all go away in time. People are convicted of crimes all the time that they did not commit, so you need to take this seriously right from the beginning.
Your attorney will immediately get to work protecting you in all discussions with the police to make sure you don’t inadvertently say something that can be used against you. Your lawyer will work to find the evidence necessary to overcome a false accusation or counter evidence being brought by the accuser.
Get All the Evidence You Can
Your lawyer will help you with this step, and what you need will depend on the precise nature of the allegations, but it’s smart to think through everything you have that could possibly be used as evidence to show that you are not guilty of assault.
This might, for example, include receipts showing that you were in a specific place at the time the assault supposedly happened. Or, it could include text messages or emails from the accused. Do not contact the accused, but do make a list of all these possibilities to talk over with your lawyer. Don’t throw away any communication you’ve had with the accused or anyone who could be a witness.
If you’re being accused of assault, don’t wait to protect yourself. Call Ryan Hill, Attorney at Law, right now at 903-371-0095 for a free consultation.
