When Tinder Dates End with Sex Crime Charges

Sex crime accusations are on the rise in the age of online dating.

With more and more people in Houston and the surrounding areas using dating apps like Tinder and Bumble, it’s never been easier to hook up. And while the vast majority of interactions are consensual, Tinder and other dating platforms allow for consensual acts to be framed as non-consensual later on. This can result in people facing unjustified sex crime charges.

Fortunately, law enforcement in Houston usually only moves forward with criminal cases when there is evidence of wrongdoing. But this isn’t always the case, and sometimes innocent people get saddled with sexual assault charges.

Even if you avoid formal criminal charges, the allegations alone can damage your reputation and career. Therefore, if you or a loved one are accused of sexual misconduct after a tinder date or hookup, it is crucial to contact an experienced Houston sex crime lawyer before trying to explain the situation. Going it alone can make things a lot worse.

Attorney Ned Barnett is a highly-experienced Houston defense attorney, focusing on protecting people accused of sexual offenses. Call The Law Offices of Ned Barnett today at (713) 222-6767, or reach out online for a free, confidential consult. We’ll explain your rights, options, and how we can help.

Tinder & Dating Apps – How Charges Happen

Generally, people take precautions to avoid being the victim of sexual assault. The same applies if you want to avoid being the victim of false accusations.

If you do not know the person you are meeting with, you cannot assume they have good intentions. Anything that happens behind closed doors could get turned around and used against you.

When you meet someone on Tinder, you don’t have much to go on besides what you saw on their profile. So be observant. You can anticipate problems before they develop if you see red flags.

Avoid a meetup with someone from a dating app if any of the following are true:

• You are intoxicated
• The other person is intoxicated
• The person exhibited symptoms of mental illness or emotional distress
• You are in a position of being blackmailed

When these factors are present, the person you’re meeting may have a reason to accuse you of sexually assaulting them. One common cause of false accusations is when a person cheats and gets found out by their significant other. Instead of owning up to the indiscretion, they may claim they were assaulted.

What to Do After False Accusations

Despite taking precautions, the day may come where you get falsely accused of sexual assault. If this occurs, there are things you can do to improve your chances of avoiding criminal prosecution:

• Do not contact the victim
• Do not talk about the incident with anyone, including the police
• Make a timeline of your interactions with the alleged victim
• Gather any proof like movie, parking, and meal receipts
• Save or otherwise document all communications from the victim and interested parties
• Call an experienced defense lawyer as soon as possible

Do Not Try to Clear Things Up Alone

You may think you can easily resolve false accusations by confronting the victim or explaining yourself to the police. In most cases, you will only inadvertently give the prosecutor more evidence against you.

There’s a reason why the police are legally bound to warn you that everything you say can and will be used against you. You have the right to remain silent when you are investigated for a crime, and using this right is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your sex crimes case.

Accused After a Date? Call a Lawyer for Help

False accusations of rape are rare, but they do happen. What’s worse, unfair convictions and devastating sex crime penalties happen too.

At The Law Offices of Ned Barnett, we can help you fight back against false claims by aggressively advocating on your behalf from the start. This can usually make the difference in clearing up misunderstandings, getting a case dismissed, or reducing the impact on your life.

If you have been charged with sexual assault after an online date, call us today at (713) 222-6767, or reach out online to find out how we can help you beat the charges.