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White lies, elaborate lies, tall tales, or short tales, we’ve all told a lie once or twice, thinking it would be harmless.
But when a lie is told about a sexual encounter, things can escalate very quickly.
Take the story of Nikki Yovino, a 19-year-old student at Sacred Heart, for example. Yovino claimed she was sexually assaulted by two football players in a bathroom at an off-campus football party in a desperate attempt to gain sympathy from a potential boyfriend. In reality, the encounter was consensual.
After filing rape charges and ruining the reputations of the two men accused, she recanted her story approximately three months later, eventually revealing the truth about the encounter and her motive for bearing false witness.
By this time, the men had already withdrawn from school, losing their opportunity for an education at Sacred Heart, jeopardizing their athletic prospects, and ruining their college experience.
While false rape reports are statistically low, they do happen. False accusations of any type of sexual crime can have lifelong consequences for everyone involved. Below are damaging consequences of what a false sexual assault claim can have on the accused:
Ruined Reputation
Sexual crimes are considered particularly heinous and the accusation of one can cause an individual to feel like an outcast in social circles. Friends, coworkers, and neighbors may begin to question their friendships and affiliations. The rumor mill may circulate with inconsistent pieces of information, hurtful falsehoods, and attacks on one’s character. If these comments are splashed across social media, they often spread like wildfire and can be hard to put to rest.
Loss of Job or Education
An accusation alone might put an end to someone’s employment; an employer may consider terminating the accused individual even if he or she has not been convicted. If convicted of a sexual crime, one can face serious discrimination when re-entering the workforce.
If a student is accused of sexual assault, scholarships, athletic commitments, and grants may be at risk, jeopardizing his or her chance at a higher education.
Severed Family Relationships
A sexual assault accusation may sever family ties as the feeling of embarrassment and uncertainty may cloud one’s family circle and cause a divide. Severed ties can make the accused feel lonely and unsupported, thus changing the family dynamic forever.
Legal Fees
According to a top-rated Rhode Island criminal defense attorney, “Sometimes individuals are falsely charged with the facts and allegations are exaggerated or just made up”, but “it is crucial to fight sex crime charges as these can affect your career, family, and social life.”
Most sexual crimes are classified as felonies, which most likely will impact the accused for the rest of his or her life should he or she be convicted. The accused may turn to qualified criminal defense attorneys to help defend their liberties and fight for the truth, but enlisting the help of legal professionals comes with a price, regardless of your innocence.
Sexual crimes are serious and thus accusations of illegal sexual crimes should be treated as such. False accusations are damaging to all parties involved, jeopardizing employment, education, relationships, family, and one’s status in society. Not to mention, false allegations of sexual assault also seriously undermine real victims and their voice.
As seen by the men in the Nikki Yovino case, false accusations of sexual assaults happen. While they make up a small number, they occur, and disproportionately affect men. If you or a loved one has been falsely accused of a sexual crime, you too, must speak up and have your voice heard to protect your innocence.
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This content is sponsored by Sam Larson.
Photo: Pexels