Explaining yourself to family before you have a lawyer is how distorted accounts reach investigators. Counsel needs to be involved from the first contact.
These allegations frequently involve family members or people already in some kind of relationship, and that creates a dangerous instinct. The accused gets questioned by family and tries to explain their side of the story.
Whatever account is given gets relayed to investigators, who are then working from second- or third-hand information that may have been misunderstood along the way. The investigator conducting the interview has generally already formed a view of guilt and treats a denial as part of the defense.
These are cases where an attorney needs to be involved from the very beginning. Barrera Defense represents people accused of indecency with a child in Floresville, Wilson County, Atascosa County, and Karnes County.
Citation: Texas Penal Code §21.11
Degree and classification: Sexual contact with a child is a second-degree felony. Exposure with intent to arouse is a third-degree felony.
Statutory language: A person commits an offense if, with a child younger than 17, they engage in sexual contact, or, with intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire, expose themselves knowing the child is present.