Should I speak to the police if I’m being charged with a sex crime in Oklahoma?

Tulsa Sex Crimes Defense Attorney Lee Berlin Shares Key Reasons to Exercise Your Right to Remain Silent

Staying quiet may seem difficult, especially if you're scared or feel wrongfully accused. However, it is truly the only way to protect yourself from making statements that could permanently destroy your defense strategy. Politely but firmly state that you wish to exercise your right to remain silent. Then, contact Berlin Defense so Tulsa sex crimes defense attorney Lee Berlin can advise you on the legal process moving forward.

The Danger of Speaking to Police Without a Lawyer

With your freedom and future at stake, it's understandable if your first instinct is to try and talk your way out of the allegations. However, speaking to law enforcement without first consulting an experienced Tulsa sex crimes defense attorney is one of the worst mistakes you could make—even if you are completely innocent.

1. Law Enforcement's Tactics Are Designed to Build a Case Against You

From the moment you become a suspect, the sole mission of the investigating officers is to gather as much incriminating evidence against you as possible. They are trained to deploy sophisticated interrogation techniques with the goal of getting you to make incriminating statements or admissions, even if you believe you are simply "explaining your side of the story."

2. Perceived Untruths Could Make Things Worse

Even if you are 100% factually truthful in your statements to the police, any perceived contradictions or inconsistencies in your account compared to other evidence could be used against you as proof of deception. Law enforcement may accuse you of lying, which can exponentially compound the situation.

3. You Could Mistakenly Waive Important Rights

During an interrogation, police are required to advise you of your Miranda rights to remain silent and have an attorney present. However, anything you say after that could be interpreted as a waiver of those crucial rights. You could think making a few simple statements is harmless, but it may strip away the protections you deserve.

4. The Police Can Legally Use Deception and Lie to You

It's a harsh reality, but law enforcement officers are legally permitted to use deception and make false claims during questioning as an interrogation technique. They may tell you things like, "We have DNA evidence that proves you’re guilty of rape " or "We found extensive collections of illegal pornography on your computer," even if those statements are completely untrue. Speaking without a lawyer makes you more vulnerable to such manipulative tactics.

5. Your Statements Could Undermine Potential Defenses

Even if you had no intent to break the law, certain statements explaining your actions or situation could actually raise questions that undermine your defense. For example, admitting you told your neighbor’s daughter she looked pretty in her new dress could be interpreted as a motive for child sexual abuse. Only an experienced Tulsa sex crimes defense attorney can advise you on what can be safely said and what should be avoided.

6. A Conversation Will NOT "Clear Things Up" or Make You Look Innocent

No matter how compelling your story is, it could actually increase suspicion and strengthen the prosecution's case against you. They are looking for any inconsistencies or contradictions to exploit. Speaking to them without counsel is a lost cause and cannot help your situation.

7. Your Statements Can Be Used Against You in Court

Anything you tell police can potentially be used to prosecute you, whether those statements are verbal, in writing, or captured on audio/video recording. Why give prosecutors ammunition to use your own words against you at trial?

Exercise Your Right to Remain Silent

At the end of the day, there is no upside or benefit that comes from talking to the police—even if you’ve been falsely accused. The only safe, smart approach is to avoid any discussions whatsoever and invoke your constitutional rights, which include:

The right to remain silent. You have the absolute right to refuse to answer any questions from the police about the alleged crime. This prevents you from making potentially incriminating statements.
The right to have an attorney present. You are entitled to have a lawyer present during any interrogation who can advise you on how to legally protect yourself.
The right to stop questioning. Even if you initially agree to answer some questions, you can stop the questioning at any time by stating you now wish to exercise your right to remain silent.

Exercise your right to remain silent until you’ve had a chance to contact Berlin Defense. We’re committed to aggressively defending our clients while ensuring their rights are protected throughout the process. Check out our case results and client testimonials to learn more about how we’ve helped people just like you deal with charges for Oklahoma sex crimes.