Being accused of a sex crime, especially when it involves a child, is a serious matter. Although the accused is innocent until proven guilty, he or she often faces a public that often automatically assumes that the accused as guilty when it comes to this type of crime.

In a recent incidence, a Farmington substitute teacher is accused of sexually assaulting a student. The man is scheduled to appear before an Oakland Circuit Court for a pretrial exam. The man is free on a $10,000 bond, but is under house arrest and may only leave his house for limited activities.

The man has worked as a substitute teacher in the school district for 25 years. According to his district records, this is the first time that there has been any such complaint or accusation involving the man. In addition, his attorney noted that during earlier court proceedings, there has been no evidence given that suggests that the man is a pedophile. His attorney also noted that when the police searched the man’s home, they found no child pornography.

Being convicted of a sex crime carries harsh penalties. In addition to long prison sentences, people who are convicted of sex crimes must register a sex offender for life and will appear in state and federal sex crime databases. The consequences of being registered as a sex offender are life altering, as the person is barred from being around children and is limited in his or her employment options. It is therefore vital to present a strong defense as early as possible when accused of this type of crime.

Source: Observer & Eccentric, “Substitute teacher faces pretrial exam,” Joanne Maliszewski, June 2, 2013