Being accused of committing a sex crime can seriously damage the reputation of the accused. Often, people find their jobs in jeopardy even if they are not convicted and their names on sex offenders’ lists if they are. For young people, this can permanently hold them back.
According to the reports, an 18-year-old high-school student from Zionsville, Indiana, was charged with rape and sexual battery post investigations into an incident that occurred in September 2018. In an affidavit, the complainant said that the accused sexually assaulted her at a time they were alone searching for another friend, and that the accused was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the assault. She also stated that after the incident, the accused had texted her to apologize.
Upon being charged, the accused was booked into jail but was released the following day on a bond of $5,000. He now has to appear for a jury trial in August 2019, where his attorney said he will be pleading not guilty. Per the statement made by the defense attorney, the accused is not a rapist. The defense attorney also claimed there is sufficient evidence to prove that the sexual encounter was consensual.
In sex crime cases such as this one, it is often found that the rights of the accused are violated. This can either happen due to lack of understanding on part of the accused or because the prosecutor is in a hurry to have the accused convicted.
A person accused of a sex crime should speak to a skilled criminal defense attorney immediately. Penalties for a sex crime conviction are harsh and have the potential to be life-changing, especially when the accused is young.