Accused? Take Careful, Informed Steps From the Start

If you’re facing a sex crimes lawyer Plano search because someone has accused you, know this first: a report you believe is false can still open a criminal investigation in Texas. Your early steps matter more than most people expect, so start with the facts below.

A False Accusation Is Still a Criminal Investigation in Texas

Yes, a false accusation can start a criminal case in Collin County. Police take a report and look into it. If you learn that you are under investigation, we can review what is happening and explain your options.

Prosecutors decide whether to file charges after they review the report and the evidence. Your innocence matters in the end, but it doesn’t stop the investigation from moving forward.

The specific allegation decides which law applies. In Texas, sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault are separate offenses, and aggravated sexual assault is generally charged as a first-degree felony. Indecency with a child under Texas Penal Code § 21.11 is a second-degree felony when it involves sexual contact. Online solicitation of a minor under Texas Penal Code § 33.021 covers messages sent by email, text, or online services.

The words in the report shape the charge, and the charge shapes what is at stake. Wrongful convictions do happen. The National Registry of Exonerations publishes research on wrongful convictions, including causes such as false accusations.

Do Not Contact the Accuser or Anyone Connected to the Accusation

Do not contact the person who made the accusation, and do not ask friends or family to reach out for you. A message meant as an apology can still look like pressure.

Contact through a mutual friend, a coworker, or a family member can create the same problem. Avoid posting about the accuser or the situation anywhere online, including comments, stories, and direct messages.

Bond conditions matter here too. Under Texas Penal Code § 25.07, a person commits an offense by communicating with a protected person in a threatening or harassing way. The same statute covers communicating in any manner when the order bars all contact. It also covers going near a protected person’s home, workplace, or a child’s school when the order says so.

Read every bond paper and protective order closely. If a condition is unclear, ask your lawyer before you act on your own.

Preserve Your Phone, Messages, and Accounts Exactly as They Are

Keep every phone, computer, message, and account in the state it is in right now. Deleting texts, photos, call logs, or social media posts can make the situation harder to explain, even when the deletion was routine.

Do not wipe, reset, trade in, or replace a phone or computer. Do not edit messages or cut and forward only parts of a conversation. Keep the original device, and keep it charged.

Digital records often carry weight in these cases. Messages, location data, and file details can show when and where things happened. Investigators may extract this information from devices.

Do not try to sort through this evidence alone or post it anywhere. Share it privately with your lawyer so the lawyer can decide how it should be reviewed.

Write a Private Timeline While Your Memory Is Fresh

A private timeline is a dated, factual record that you write for your lawyer and keep to yourself. Write it soon, while details are still clear.

Include dates, places, and who was present. Note the messages you sent and received, and what was said in person. Mark the document as “Prepared for my attorney” at the top.

Record only what you actually remember. If you’re unsure of a detail, write “unsure” instead of guessing. Speculation can create problems later, because it may not match the records.

Update the timeline only as your memory is confirmed. Do not share it with friends, coworkers, or on social media. Your lawyer can use it to decide which evidence to examine first.

Decline to Give a Statement Until a Lawyer Is Present

Do not answer police questions about the accusation until you have spoken with a lawyer. A request to “just talk” or a friendly visit from an investigator is still a police interview.

Many people believe that explaining the truth will clear things up. A statement given without preparation can include gaps or small mismatches with the records. Those details can be used later, even when the person is innocent.

Before you speak with police, it may help to talk with a lawyer about your situation. You can also ask for a card or a phone number so your lawyer can follow up.

Never make up an answer to fill a gap in your memory. Staying silent does not make a charge go away, and no way of responding to police can assure any particular result. Let your lawyer guide what happens next.

What a Plano Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer Reviews in Your Case

A defense lawyer starts by reviewing the charge, the evidence, and each step the investigation has taken so far. This review shapes every decision that follows.

Your lawyer will look at the police report and any written or recorded statements. They will also review text and social media records, phone extractions, and medical or forensic records if they exist. The accuser’s account over time matters too, along with any protective order or bond paperwork.

After the review, a good defense lawyer explains your options. That includes whether to speak with investigators, how to respond to a subpoena or search warrant, and what to expect in the Collin County court process.

Barbieri Law Firm is a Frisco criminal defense firm. We serve clients in Collin County, Plano, and across Dallas-Fort Worth. No lawyer can promise a particular result, and no lawyer can assure how a case will end.

Talk to a Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer Before You Respond to Police or the Accuser

If you’ve just learned of a complaint, a police request to talk, or a message from the accuser, you may feel pressure to fix things right away. Pause before you respond. Speaking with a lawyer first gives you a clear plan.

Call Barbieri Law Firm at (972) 424-1902, or send your case details through our contact form. We will review what you have and explain your options before you decide what to say or do.

No lawyer can promise a particular result, and no lawyer can assure how a case will end.

Attorney responsible for this site: Heather Barbieri, Barbieri Law Firm, Frisco, Texas.