Few allegations are quite as worrisome as sexual assault claims. If you're being accused of such conduct, it's prudent to reach out to a criminal defense lawyer for a consultation. Read on for more info about what you should do or consider as soon as you are accused of sexual assault. 

Don't Make the Situation Worse

People on both sides of such allegations can get very upset. Regardless of how you feel about what's being said, you should avoid making the situation any worse than it is. Once you hear the accusation, refrain from contact with an accuser and anyone you might know who is closely connected with them. Unless a reply is required, do not text them or take their phone calls. If you need to reach out to them to discuss something, do so through your attorney.

Assess the Level of the Accusation

There is a major gap between an allegation and a criminal charge. One of the first things to consider is whether a police officer has contacted you. It's important to not be complacent if charges don't seem to be pending, but there's a difference between preparing to be interviewed by a cop and hearing rumors floating around.

If the police have asked to interview you, insist that you have your criminal defense lawyer present. Some cops may act like they just need to ask a few questions, and they might even try to say they don't see you as a suspect. No matter what an officer says, insist upon having a sexual assault attorney there to advise you.

Preserve Everything

Texts and cellphone photos are among the most commonly used tools in handling both investigations and defenses. Refrain from deleting anything. Back data up to the cloud to preserve it. Take screenshots to prevent losing messages.

It's always going to be harder to explain why something was deleted than it is to explain the thing in and of itself. Even items that seem downright damning should be preserved. Failing to do so might be construed as obstruction of justice. Oddly enough, deleting materials could lead to a scenario where you avoid being charged with sexual assault but end up being charged with a process crime.

Also, even seemingly irrelevant information can be very useful. For example, a text exchange you had with a friend during the night of the alleged incident might be useful in backing up your timeline of events.