I will never forgot the day I was arrested for child molestation. I had seen people arrested many times before, but to be arrested yourself…well, that’s a totally different experience. Being arrested for child molestation is frightening, humiliating, and degrading. Fortunately, I was allowed to turn myself in, but more often than not the Police love to arrest you at work. They love to humiliate you. I was still hand-cuffed, put in a police car, and forced to change into prison clothing until my bail was made. I was treated like a criminal and did nothing. I was innocent.
Perhaps you’ve been arrested for child molestation or think you might be, what do you do? Regardless of whether you molested a child or not, the things that you need to do right now are the same.
DO NOT TALK TO THE POLICE
There is a very good reason the police have to read you the follow “You have the right the remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law”. Just like it says, they will use anything you say, most likely against you. The only information you should provide is your name, your address, the name of a family member, and your employer. This information is often needed for bail. If you are asked any other questions, say “I want to speak to a lawyer”. No matter what they say, only ask for lawyer.
The police are allowed to lie and will lie to get you to say things, confess, make you trust them, etc. They will make you promises of “helping” if you help them. Don’t believe it, their job is the arrest you, not help you. Am I the only one that finds it ironic, that the agency that is supposed to be there to protect us and serve as role models for our children intentionally lie?
Call a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible
In many cases, like mine, you might be questioned or investigated prior to being arrested. I was asked to come to the station and talk to them. Stupidly, I agreed. Since I didn’t do the crime they accused me of once I got there, I believed it would be alright to tell them my version of the story. I believed they would believe me. Wrong. They twisted my words around to make it look like I confessed when I didn’t. The written statement submitted to the DA re-arranged and even changed what I said, so that it looked like I admitted to possibly “touching [her] by accident”. Their statement did not accurately convey what I had said. But who will people believe, an accused child molester or the Police? They’re real good at lying and tricking you by the way. Remember, they’ve had lots of training and experience. A few weeks after my “interview”, I was arrested and charged with child molestation (indecent liberties with a minor), a felony.
The most important thing you can do before or after being arrested for child molestation is to have an attorney present. An attorney will keep the police from trampling all over your rights. As soon a as you find out you’ve been accused of child molestation, retain an attorney. Do not talk to anyone, including the police until you do. If you’ve been arrested, do not talk to the police without your attorney present. Who should you call using your one phone call? Your attorney.
Finding an attorney, especially one with experience in child molestation cases can be tough. Due to the stigma, many attorneys don’t want to handle child molestation cases. But stay the course, and you will find a few attorneys that will.
If you’re arrested and haven’t had time to find an attorney that specializes in child molestation cases, just get a criminal attorney to help you through the arrest process. You can always switch attorney’s later, and most likely the attorney you’re working with now can refer you to someone that handles child molestation cases.
Stay Calm
Staying calm when arrested of child molestation is critical. First and foremost, it may protect you from additional charges or from being physically harmed. Don’t ever resist being arrested, even if you are innocent. Resisting arrest is illegal, and may put the officers in a position where they feel endangered…not a good situation. So just remain as calm as you can. There is a process you have to go through, and willingly or not, you will go through the process.
Staying calm will also help you not only think through the situation so you can respond and act appropriately, it may also allow you to notice details that may be important to your case. Stay calm and pay attention. As soon as you can, write everything down that happened, including detail about the officers, how they acted, where you were taken, treated, etc. This information will be critical for your attorney.
Do not consent to a search
If the police want to search your car, house or anything else do not consent to a search. With that said, depending on where you are arrested, the location may give the police cause to search your car or house, but not always. Just state that you “do not consent to a search.” If they search anyway, do not resist. Let your attorney and a judge determine if the search was illegal. Most likely, if you’re being arrested of child molestation, the police will have a search warrant for you home and will confiscate your computer, pictures, and video that you have. You have the right to see it. They’ll be looking for child pornography as patterns show true offenders often have child pornography at their homes and on their computers. They took 3 of our computers for 2 years…they found nothing.
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If you’ve been arrested for child molestation, remember: stay calm, keep your mouth shut, and contact an attorney as soon as you. Did I mention to not talk to the Police?? DO NOT TALK TO THE POLICE!
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
This is wonderful advice but somehow we have to educate BEFORE this happens to them. Each of us facing this travesty all believed in the justice system, we believed that since we, or our loved ones were innocent, we did not need to fear the police because we had nothing to hide. We did not understand “the game”! It’s not about justice, it’s never about justice. It’s a political game where the prosecutor is out to win at all costs regardless of innocence or guilt. Keep up with the great advice, I just hope we can stop this from happening to anyone in the future. Thank you for all you do! Information is the key!!!!
and by doing all the above you make yourself sound GUILTY.
Wow u people r out of this worl seriously regardless or wether u have or not get the fuck out of here I cannot believe in ur brain that u think it is ok its terrible for someone to b falsley accused but u said even if u really have ur sick if u think u should be able to get away with a crime like that to me that says u r guilty. U need fucking help
Kathy, you don’t understand how things work. Read My Story and you’ll understand why I share this advice. I used to think the same thing. You believe this because you trust the police, and have faith that their truely is justice…you’re living a lie. Read my My Story, you’ll walk away with a different perspective.
Jess, what the heck are you talking about? You’re right, it’s terrible to be falsely accused AND falsely convicted. I never said even if you really did it that you should be able to get away with it, what I said was you need to protect your rights. Remember this is America and we’re all entitled to rights. If you don’t do what I said, the justice system will railroad you.
Who needs help?
can they convict you with it without evidence?
Tiffany, unfortunately they sure can. Evidence is the child’s word. The younger the child the higher the chance for the jury to believe them.
Kathy, this advice may not sound like what you would do in this situation, but it is the right thing to do. Do you see what has happened to Falsely Accused Dad when he did everything the ‘right’ way? The police, while I respect them, do have a duty to get the person that is standing in front of them to confess, even if it is a false confession. If you are ever arrested for anything, no matter what it is, do not ever under any circumstance make any statements to the police without invoking your right to an attorney. Any defense attorney worth their salt will tell you this. I would rather be charged with murder than have to sit in front of a child on the witness stand that is pointing a finger at YOU saying that you touched them inappropriately. It happens every day, and is a very common tactic in contentious custody disputes. The police are not your friends. I know the first instinct of most people would be to sit down and tell your side of the story. If you do this, you’re sealing your fate. The most innocuous statement can come back to harm you. This website is filled with good advice. Heed it, and be wiser for it.
Very good info. but a little to late for me I think. I have been accused but not arrested as yet, by my daughter. I was interviewed by the Police and gave permission to search my home. All without an attorney. I have recieved a letter from the state that they are siding with my daughter without asking me one question about the accusations. I do not have the money for an attorney and so I still dont have one. I am at a loss for what to do. I never thought anything like this could or would happen to me. Now I sit at home waiting for the Police to show up, and I am afraid to go to work for the same reason. I feel like I have nothing anymore, and I am nothing. I was so suprised that I was even being questioned for this, that I dont even remember what I said. It has been over 2 months since it started and I have lost weight, and have a skin rash that will not go away. I am afraid to make plans with friends for fear that I will not be there. This is NOT a life, but a prison, and I havent even been convicted.