Criminal defense: Dance teacher charged with sexual abuse

Being charged with a crime is an incredibly stressful and frightening experience. When the charges include sexual abuse against a child, the negative effects multiply exponentially. One New Jersey man is currently in the middle of such accusations, and is likely struggling to know how to best structure a criminal defense against allegations that are shocking and deplorable.

The man is a dance instructor. He is accused of sexually assaulting a little girl who was both a student and the daughter of friends. While details concerning the case are sparse, it appears that the 8-year-old girl was in the man’s exclusive care for a period of at least two months. It is unclear what specific acts are suspected to have taken place.

The charges he will face include aggravated sexual assault, child abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. These crimes represent serious offenses against children, and the courts take such accusations very seriously. A conviction on these charges could have devastating ramifications for the man, both personally and professionally.

When it comes to accusations of sexual abuse, it is imperative to keep in mind that the initial reports usually receive a great deal of media coverage, in New Jersey and beyond. In addition, they are almost entirely comprised of details from police reports and assertions made by the alleged victim or their family. The side of the defendant is often not heard until his or her criminal defense is presented at trial. While many such cases do not result in a conviction, the damage to the reputation of the accused is often already done by that point. As with any other defendant in the American judicial system, this man is innocent unless and until he is proven otherwise.

Source: nj.com, “Jersey City dance instructor charged with sexually assaulting 8-year-old girl, authorities say,” Michaelangelo Conte, Nov. 8, 2012