Let me tell you a story. A woman is falsely accused of a serious sex offense against a child. She is charged, and her case goes to trial. The media publishes her picture along with the accusations, making it seem like she actually committed the crime she has been charged with. With the help of a passionate criminal defense attorney, the woman is found not-guilty at trial; her accuser made up the allegations. You would think the media would publish news of the not-guilty verdict. At the very least, you would think they would remove her picture from the article about the accusations – she is innocent, after all. Unfortunately, the media doesn't work this way in Adams, Douglas, and El Paso County. Nothing further was published, and despite multiple emails being sent, the woman's picture was never removed. This is normal. This is what our culture does. They become obsessed with the drama and intrigue of a terrible crime, but they don't care to follow up and publish the truth, and destroy lives in the process. The other day, I came across an article I hadn't seen before – the media actually broke the norm and published a not-guilty verdict for a gymnastics coach accused of a serious sex offense. I was shocked. Let's look at the details of this rare occurrence in the media.

[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”80%”]Let me tell you a story…[/pullquote]

Gymnastics Coach Receives Not-Guilty Verdict

Last year, a gymnastics coach was charged with a myriad of serious offenses, including Sexual Assault on a Child by a Person in a Position of Trust as a Pattern of Abuse, Sexual Assault on a Child, and Unlawful Sexual Contact. These crimes are some of the most serious in Colorado, and they result in life prison sentences. The gymnastics coach's face was published all over the news in Denver, Arapahoe, and Jefferson County, and across Colorado. [pullquote align=”left” textalign=”left” width=”30%”]The media assumes people are guilty from the minute they publish an article.[/pullquote]People's first reactions are to believe what is written and write off the person as a pervert. After all, how could the media be wrong? This is a terrible response to sex crime accusations. Our criminal justice system is set up around the principle that a defendant is innocent until they are proven guilty. Why doesn't the media operate under the same standard? Last week while browsing the news, I came across another article about the gymnastics coach. I witnessed a rare occurrence – the media published that the coach was found not-guilty at trial. They included his photo. The article itself left a lot to be desired, stating the original facts of the case which made it sound as if the gymnastics coach had actually committed the crimes, but was somehow found innocent at trial. The media should have focused on the fact he was found not-guilty at trial. In other words – a jury found he didn't commit the crimes of which he was accused. It was the least the media could do. The poor man lost his job when he was accused. He has to put his life back together after the accusations and his trial.

Why You Need a Lawyer for a Sex Crimes Trial

If you have been charged with a sex offense, you need to work with an outstanding sex crimes defense attorney. You need a friend by your side – an advocate who believes your side of the story and will defend it for you in the courtroom. The media won't publish the truth – they'll publish what sells and creates buzz. The District Attorney isn't looking for the truth – they are paid to prosecute you and promoted for guilty verdicts. Juries aren't trained to look for the truth. This is why you need a skilled criminal lawyer in the courtroom with you. The attorneys at the O'Malley Law Office are trained to instruct the jury to look for the truth and do the right thing when it comes to the falsely accused. Don't stand alone in the courtroom. Contact a lawyer who will fight to get you the best possible outcome in your case. Here at the O'Malley Law Office, we fight to win.

If you or a loved one has been falsely accused of a sex offense, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at the O'Malley Law Office at 303-830-0880. Together, we can protect your future.