The phone call comes without warning. Your son or daughter is facing sex crime allegations related to sexting, distribution of explicit images, non-consensual touching, or situations where consent is disputed but legally impossible due to age. In an instant, your family's world turns upside down. Rumors spread through school, neighbors whisper, and suddenly your teenager's bright future—college plans, career aspirations, and normal social development—hangs in the balance.
Don't let a mistake or false accusation define your child's life. With proper legal guidance and family support, many teenagers successfully navigate these difficult legal challenges and move forward toward positive futures. At Berlin Defense, we're committed to helping Tulsa families like yours through these challenging times with skill, compassion, and respect.
How to Create a Safe Space for Conversation
When you first learn about the allegations, take some time to process your own emotions before speaking with your child. Children look to their parents for emotional cues. If you appear panicked or judgmental, your child may shut down or withhold important information.
When it’s time to discuss the allegations, we suggest the following:
- Choose a private, comfortable setting. Find a quiet space where you won't be interrupted and your child feels secure. Turn off phones and electronic devices to eliminate distractions. This conversation requires complete attention from both of you.
- Use non-accusatory language. At Berlin Defense, we create an environment where clients can tell their complete story without fear of judgment. Your home should offer the same sanctuary. Remember that what appears straightforward at first glance often misses crucial context and nuance, especially in juvenile cases.
- Listen more than you speak. Allow your child to explain what happened from their perspective without interruption. Young people often struggle to describe these types of complex situations involving peer pressure, relationships, and sexuality. Give them time to find the right words and resist the urge to fill silences or complete their thoughts for them.
- Explain the seriousness without inducing panic. Explain that sex crime charges can have significant legal implications while reassuring your son or daughter that with proper legal representation and family support, there are pathways forward. This balanced approach helps them take the situation seriously without becoming overwhelmed by fear.
Mistakes to Avoid
When supporting your child through a sex crime charge, knowing what to avoid in your conversations is just as important as knowing what to say. Acting rashly can inadvertently damage your child’s case.
Here’s how to avoid the most common mistakes we see parents make when their child has been accused of a sex crime.
- Avoid demanding immediate explanations. Your child may feel confused, afraid, or unable to articulate everything that happened. Pushing too hard for details can cause them to create inaccurate narratives just to satisfy your questions. Instead, create an ongoing dialogue where they can share information as they process events and build trust.
- Never suggest fabricating or changing stories. Even if you believe the allegations result from a misunderstanding, never coach your child to change their account or create alibis. Courts view witness tampering extremely seriously, and electronic communications are often recoverable during investigations. Encourage truthfulness while explaining that their attorney will help present their truth in the most legally effective manner.
- Refrain from discussing the case with others. Warn your child about sharing details with friends, posting on social media, or discussing the case with anyone except their attorney and you. This includes discussions with family members, teachers, coaches, or counselors who may later be legally obligated to report what they've heard. Privacy protects your child's defense options.
- Don't make promises about outcomes. Sex crime cases follow complicated legal pathways that depend on many factors outside your control. Instead, focus on concrete commitments you can keep, like "I will be with you throughout this process" or "We will get you the best legal help available."
What to Expect When You Work With Berlin Defense
With Berlin Defense, your family gains an advocate who sees beyond the allegations to the full person—and future—at stake. Sex crimes defense attorney Lee Berlin has helped countless Tulsa families navigate these difficult waters successfully.
Here’s what you and your child can expect when you choose to work with our firm:
- A compassionate first meeting. Unlike attorneys who glance at your case file and immediately talk plea deals, Lee offers something far more valuable—a chance for your child to be heard and seen as a person, not just a case number or charge. Our initial strategy session provides space for your teen to share their full story in a non-judgmental environment.
- Age-specific defense strategies. After sitting across from hundreds of clients—from tearful teenagers to shell-shocked adults—Lee has mastered the art of age-specific defense tailored to your teen's unique situation and future prospects. His approach shifts and adapts to address the distinct challenges juveniles face in Oklahoma's legal system.
- Former prosecutor insight. As someone who has stood on both sides of the courtroom, Lee understands exactly how sex crime prosecutions against juveniles are built—how emotions sway juries, how evidence can tell different stories, and where the pressure points exist in these sensitive cases. This insider knowledge now works for your family.
- Faith-centered approach. Guided by the principle "Don't judge others just because their sins are different than yours," Berlin Defense maintains your child's humanity and dignity throughout the legal process, recognizing that teenagers aren't defined by their worst moments or mistakes.
- Focus on maintaining juvenile status. Whenever possible, Berlin Defense fights to keep your child's case within the juvenile offender or youthful offender system, where rehabilitation rather than punishment remains the priority.
- Preparation for every outcome. While working toward the best possible resolution, Lee ensures your family understands all potential scenarios and is prepared for court proceedings if necessary. This includes guiding your teen on appropriate courtroom behavior and managing expectations realistically.
