Get legal help to fight sexual assault charges in Oklahoma City. Work with a criminal defense lawyer who will advocate for you, protect your rights, and prepare a legal defense designed to disprove the prosecution’s case.
Legal Strategies That You Can Use to Fight Back Against a Sexual Assault Charge in Oklahoma City
Your Oklahoma City criminal defense lawyer may utilize any of the following legal defenses to help you contest your Oklahoma City sexual assault charge:
- Consent: Sexual activity between you and your accuser was consensual.
- Alibi: You were somewhere else when a sexual assault allegedly took place.
- Mistaken Identity: You were charged with a criminal offense that someone else actually committed.
- Not Enough Evidence: In your case, the prosecutor has to meet the burden of proof for the court to convict you. Because of this, your lawyer may argue that the prosecution’s evidence is insufficient and that the court should dismiss the case against you.
- Violation of Your Rights: The police illegally searched and seized your property, or you never received your Miranda warning. If either of these things is true, your lawyer may say that your rights were breached, which could prompt the court to suppress evidence that the police obtained illegally and weaken the prosecution’s case.
Outside of these things, your lawyer may negotiate a plea deal with the prosecution. If you receive a plea bargain, you could accept the deal and agree to lesser penalties than the ones that you faced initially.
Tips to Fight a Sexual Assault Charge in Oklahoma City
Partner with a lawyer who has experience in sexual assault cases similar to yours. Tell your lawyer about your criminal charge, and be open and honest with them about it. From here, your lawyer may advise you to do the following:
- Exercise your right to remain silent. Remember, what you say in the aftermath of your arrest can be used against you. If the police reach out to you about your case, have your lawyer discuss your legal matters with them on your behalf.
- Do not contact your accuser. Leave your accuser alone. If you contact them, the court could interpret this as an attempt to intimidate your accuser or witness tampering.
- Gather evidence. Retrieve written communications between you and your accuser and other proof. If you have a large collection of evidence, it becomes exceedingly difficult for a prosecutor to compel the court to convict you.
- Put together a timeline of evidence. Establish a timeline of events leading up to your arrest while everything is still fresh in your mind. This timeline can include the dates and times of various events relating to your case and potential witnesses whom your attorney could interview.
- Stay off social media. Don’t post content on your Facebook, X, or other social media accounts. The prosecution may view these accounts in the hopes of finding evidence to strengthen their case.
- Comply with a no-contact order. If your accuser gets a victim protective order against you, follow it, regardless of whether you feel it’s unjust. Otherwise, if you violate this order, you will hurt your chances of achieving your desired case outcome.
Keep in contact with your Oklahoma City rape defense lawyer throughout your case proceedings. If you have legal concerns or questions, share them with your lawyer, and they will address them promptly.