You may not have intended to get involved in a fight, but one thing led to another and you ended up getting into a violent altercation and the police got involved. Now, you’re facing assault charges and you’re not sure where to turn, and making the wrong choices can be detrimental to your case. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most common mistakes that people make when they’re facing an assault charge.
Talking to Police.
Law enforcement officers are trained to manipulate you to get what they want, this includes using evidence against you. Let’s say you’ve been involved in a fight and the police are called. They may take you aside, hand you an ice pack for your swollen knuckles, tell you the other guy is clearly at fault and ask you for your side of the story.
It’s human nature to want to explain yourself and tell your side, so you do. At that point, the police arrest you, put you in handcuffs, and charge you with assault. An unfair but legal action, and also possibly avoidable. You’ve heard of your Miranda Rights. They begin with “You have the right to remain silent”. That’s not just for after you’ve been arrested. In most cases, you don’t have to speak to the police…ever. Exercise this right and stay silent until you speak with an attorney.
Talking to other people about the assault.
Being involved in a fight can be traumatic, and again, it’s natural to want to talk about what happened or ask for advice. Just like talking to the police can hurt you, so can talking to other people, including those closest to you like siblings and parents. It’s in your best interest to not discuss the incident with anyone other than your lawyer.
Posting about what happened on social media.
Social media is a place to share details about your life, your family, and your job, but there is such a thing as oversharing. Never post about an incident online when you’re facing charges, even if it’s to publicly claim your innocence. I can’t stress this enough. Prosecutors love blowing up huge images and Tweets for the benefit of the jury and using your words against you. So don’t post anything, not even a fist emoji. It can be taken out of context and turned around to hurt you.
Contacting the other person or persons involved in the assault.
Maybe you want to apologize or clear the air, especially if the alleged victim was a friend. Regardless of the reason, do not do it. Anything you say may be used against you in court. Even if your intentions were good.
There are lots of things you can do that will hurt your case, but there are also things you can do to improve your situation. Give yourself the best chances of putting this behind you. Call defense attorney Nathan Akamine to schedule a free legal consultation!
